Alcohol abuse among scientists at US bases in Antarctic has led to fights, indecent exposure, employees drunk on the job, National Science Foundation reports-UK Telegraph

10/6/15, "Antarctic scientists face breathalyser tests due to alcohol-fuelled fighting and 'indecent exposure'," UK Telegraph, Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney

McMurdo Station

"Audit of two Antarctic bases run by United States heard that alcohol was fuelling “unpredictable behaviour”, with calls to deploy breathalysers."

"Breathalysers could be used to curb alcohol abuse among scientists at US bases in Antarctica following “unpredictable behaviour” caused by excess drinking, including fights and indecent exposure.

Officials from the National Science Foundation told an audit of health and safety at the two US-run bases-McMurdo Station and the South Pole-that drinking has led to “unpredictable behaviour that has led to fights, indecent exposure, and employees arriving to work under the influence”, according to a report in Wired.
 

The agency is reportedly considering shipping several breathalysers to the isolated stations, which together house up to about 1,150 people, including scientists and support staff. But such a move could potentially pose legal and administrative problems, as Antarctica is not US territory and it is not clear who would conduct the tests and what rights of appeal would be available. 
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Complicating matters further, the South Pole station is at a high altitude which could reportedly prevent the breathalyser tests from working properly. The agency insisted that drinking was not out of control but it wanted to prevent alcohol-related problems. 

“Alcohol-related misconduct is not disproportionately represented at the Antarctic stations,” an NSF official told Wired in a statement. Several countries have research bases in Antarctica, including Britain, France and Russia. Each has its own rules about consumption of alcohol. 

The British Antarctic Survey, which has four all-year research stations and one that operates only during the summer, has a detailed policy on alcohol and drug use at its stations. 

The agency says it recognises that “alcohol can play a useful role in providing a diversion from the pressures of work when used in moderation” but has strict rules to prevent staff working while unduly influenced by alcohol. 

It allows alcohol to be served at specific occasions such as “the visit of a VIP, a retirement, Midwinter celebration or Christmas”. 

The US officials said the problem of excess drinking was less significant than the cultural divide between scientists and contractors at the bases."

Image caption: "McMurdo Station, one of two US-run bases in Antarctica, Photo: Alamy"

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