MarEng MarEng:
You're making assumptions. Just because I believe that it is hypocritical to allow one and not the other does not mean I do either.
The rules and policies haven't changed with the times. Neither have the laws of our country. We all know the basic rules will always be there, such as do not harm others or steal. But, laws and rules should be looked over and adjusted to society today. Not society in 1950..
Fortunately the Navy doesn't have the same rights and priviledges as society, much to chagrin of some members. When you enlist you give up those rights and if people don't like the fact that they have to, they shouldn't have joined up. It's an autocratic society where your duty is to follow orders not debate them.
This whole smoking dope vs drinking debate has been going on in the military since the sixties and the results are still the same, both impair your mental ability which could lead to disasterous results for the member, his shipmates and the ship, which is probably why they brought in things like bar hours, alcohol rehabilitation programs and zero tolerance policies.
I'll agree though, it is somewhat hypocritical of your ship to allow a complete disregard for the rules for alcohol comsumption and conduct, while the Admiral is stating Navy policy about drug use. But it still doesn't mitigate the fact that neither is allowed.
The real problem may be with your ship and it's command structure which, if what you say is true has a major discipline problem that'll likely lead to an incident which they won't be able to explain away.