S&S - Odierno expands Super Bowl beer policy

Stars and Stripes

Odierno expands Super Bowl beer policy


Stars and Stripes

Mideast edition, Sunday, January 18, 2009


The top U.S. military commander in Iraq has expanded an order that originally would have allowed only Baghdad-based U.S. troops to enjoy a couple of beers while watching the Super Bowl.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"Gen. Ray Odierno, commander of Multi-National Force–Iraq, issued an expanded waiver to the policy last week, according to military officials.

The change allows all units in Iraq to serve two beers per servicemember during the big game.
Originally, Multi-National Division–Baghdad had received permission to allow its servicemembers two beers each while watching the National Football League’s championship game, which takes place Sunday, Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

Odierno’s order is the first time all servicemembers in Iraq are allowed to break General Order No. 1, which prohibits the possession and consumption of alcohol, among other things."

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"Previously, units other than MND-Baghdad had declined to follow suit by approving the two beers.

General Order No. 1 has banned U.S. forces from drinking alcohol in Iraq since troops deployed to the Middle East.

There has been at least one previous instance in which units could drink in Iraq, military officials said, but it is not known exactly how many times this has been done in the past.
The beer must be consumed in the dining facility where soldiers can watch the game."