The Post Exchange......

[JimBob]

In 1899 there was a debate within the Army on Post Exchanges and whether to curtail selling beer in them.Here's some of the comments from the 1899 Reports of the War Dept....

Ft Leavenworth,Kansas
"Drunkeness in the post is hardly noticeable,while during the few weeks the exchange was closed "Rome howled" on the Sturgis side of the post."John McCarthy Ord.Sgt.

Fort Mott,N.J
"Starting of low resorts in the vicinity of the posts,a thing to be feared so far as the best interest of the soldier are concerned."Denis Lane Post QM Sgt.

Fort Slocum,N.Y.
"Injurious.If prohibited it would cause citizens on the outside to build low places near reservations,sell inferior liquor,besides keeping lewd women."John T McDermot Post QM Sgt.

Santiago,Cuba
"It would cause a great many men that now use intoxicants moderately to look for drink outside,and buy it in such quantities as to be injurious to them."Arthur Levinson Post QM Sgt.

Benecia Barracks,Calif.
"With our present class of men I do not think it would materially affect them one way or another."Patrick Ferrel Ord.Sgt.

Fort Apache,Ariz,

"I think it would be unwise.It would cause the erection of rum shops near the post."Joseph Petty Ord.Sgt

Fort Logan,Colorado
"It would have a tendency to increase drunkenness and unauthorized absences from duty,and lead men to associate with a certain class of undesirable persons that frequent drinking resorts outside."Alonzo Ray Ord.Sgt.

And the most astute observation I've found so far-

Army Medical Museum
"It would be almost impossible to stop a soldier from drinking."Martin Rose Hospital Steward

[Charles Isaac]

I served under commanders that would deny their men a drink at every possible chance, many that would die later carrying out orders of said commander.

A leader that cannot trust his men to take a drink should blame the man in the mirror.

[Drydock]

A fond memory of my naval career, was hoisting a pint in the shipboard pub of HMS Ark Royal.  Curse you, Josephus Daniels!