You summed it up right there in your first sentence. I know several friends who could be classified as "Functional Alcoholics" They both do not drink on a work day EVER. They know they will lose their jobs. But on their off days drink like fishes but also do not drink and drive either. If they are driving it is one beer two max. They get a designated driver or stay over. That is why I have no sympathy for anyone busted on the job. You all know the risks and there are more than a few instances of pilots being busted drinking and trying to fly the outcome is never good. Me I learned through my friends I also never drink if i know I am going to drive and I certainly am not going to do it before work. That "disease " story I am not buying it..A disease is something like cancer not alcoholism. Alcoholism even if you want to classify it that way is still a choice..Cancer is not. Even if you have the "disease" of alcoholism you can still be responsible and not drink and drive or drink and fly.

Ya know its a slippery slope. I think addiction is the disease, alcoholism is just one facet of that. Drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex......they are all addictions and I think that is the disease that some are speaking of. Perhaps certain aspects of addiction are more popular or are more prevalent than others......i.e. alcoholism vs. gambling but its the ADDICTION that is lying in wait in some people hence the label of disease. To downplay as otherwise is irresponsible at best.

Ever hear of lung cancer caused by 30+ years of smoking unfiltered cigarettes? As I asked HMP to provide some research to support her claim similar to yours I'll ask the same of you. Can you provide something even remotely proof positive of your point of view? I've struggled myself with this distinction so I dug fairly heavily into it myself and I am not able to ignore the medical facts of the research. Do you base your thought process on anything other than "....I think....."? One last litmus test. I assume that you trust your family doctor. Ask them the question.

USMCFLYR

From what you said following this statement, it would appear that the first sentence was the only sentence you read.

Excellent post!

Well I can tell you that in my 35+ years of being of legal drinking age, when I did drink I knew enough not to drive and for the life of me I can't see how anyone could think they could fly an aircraft. And if you are telling me that it's not their fault they think they are OK to fly well I call BS on that. Getting dressed and getting behind the controls is NOT part of the "disease".

And no, I did not go to a commuter college for any of my 3 bachelor degrees.

Just read that a Pinnacle crew got pulled off a flight in Grand Forks, ND for suspected drinking. Sounds like it was more than 1 crew member involved. Not a good week for drinking/flying.

Not quite that much drama Geraldo.....

"The flight attendant is the focus of the investigation. The pilot and the copilot were not," Williams said, adding that the flight attendant has been "relieved of duty pending further investigation" without pay.

but being responsible enough not to close down a bar and hop in a 6am van isnt?

did somebody leave their sarcasm detector at the hotel?;)