Originally Posted by sailingfun

Thats a bit of an old wives tail and might refer more to the legal side. It’s more of a case by case basis. There have also been many pilots relapse and still get another chance. I know one who went through the program 3 times. Self reporting and entering the program can give a pilot more options than if it is mandatory following an incident.
Alcohol is a serious drug addiction but because it’s legal is often not viewed in the same light as other addictions. Most pilots are intelligent enough to know if they have an alcohol issue but just won’t quite acknowledge it and taking that step to self report is very difficult. If you pack a bottle for a trip or feel the need to consume alcohol almost every day it might be time for some self reflection. My family has a terrible record with alcohol which has kept me cautious. Most alcoholics are blissfully unaware of the effects their drinking has on their family. Pilots at Delta are very lucky to have the HIMS program. Getting those who need it into the program is the hard part.