shoot and be safe Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I don't think anyone is advocating going out and binge drinking on a shoot day. Far from it in fact. One or two tots (not even a pub measure) shouldn't be a problem for anyone, thoes that would be affected should have the common sense not to partake in the passing of a hip flasks and simply toss the nip in a peg cup away to see their number. Any drink that is offered during lunch can quite simply be refused if alcoholic and a soft alternative can be offered. As Charlie says. Our sport is not just about the shooting, it is about the socialising and seeing the dogs work aswell. In fact I would put the pulling of the trigger last on my list for why I go shooting, with seeing my dog work and the banter at the top of the reasons I enjoy being out in the field. In answer to the OP's original question. Having a tipple @ a shoot ? Yes - No YES What are peoples thoughts/opinions are on drinking (alcohol) when arriving/leaving a shoot. A nip for peg picked is fine in my book and as long as not driving, what ever you chose at the end of the day is your own choice. Seen some real no no's , guns turning up red faced, hip flask in hand etc, should be told to go home if deemed unfit to shoot in a safe manner. If I felt unsafe because I felt someone was drunk, I would make my feelings heard and leave the shoot if necessary, we all have a responsibility for everyone's safety. All jolly and good had they been a passenger in a vehicle, but in many cases, quite the opposite. As previous answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromwell7 Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 With regards to the post about clay shooting and still being over the limit the next day, it's a completely different issue altogether. Someone drinking till early hours in the morning then having some sleep then going on a clay after consuming over 20 units of alcohol is completely different to someone having a few units worth of port with their lunch then shooting an hour or so later. I think it would be interesting to find out how many of the people that have said a definite no have been on a driven day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 My friend is convinced he only has a little tipple and doesn't have a problem, starts at 5pm and downs around 10 bottles of fosters every night, I don't trust anyone who says they only have a "little tipple" and never will either. Alcohol and guns should be reserved for rednecks, hillbillys and mad Russians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STOTTO Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I expected better from you than to revert to the stereotyped, condesending "advise your FEO of your views" drivel often quoted by those whom seem to feel that gun ownership elevates them to some superior level. For the record I am quite happy for my views to go on record. There is, as I stated, absolutly nothing wrong with guns having a couple of snifters during the day. Good food, great banter and a couple of snifters make the day and if you can't understand that and feel so appalled by my belief, then please feel free to bring my views to the attention of my FEO on 01271 341231. The best I can do I am afraid, never mix alcohol and guns whilst shooting, finish shooting and then start drinking but do not start drinking and then continue shooting. The fact that it is apparently a widely accepted norm in some quarters does not make it acceptable practise in the wider arena of shooting sports! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowdy Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I have just come back from a week shooting in Croatia..... wine, beer and Rakia for hunters breakfast and lunch every day, lots of men with full bore rifles shooting driven wildboar and yet no one was shot just 34 pigs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STOTTO Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I have just come back from a week shooting in Croatia..... wine, beer and Rakia for hunters breakfast and lunch every day, lots of men with full bore rifles shooting driven wildboar and yet no one was shot just 34 pigs Perhaps some of us are at the other side of the equation, because for me from the very beginning whenever I have had a gun in my hand it has never meant ‘party time’ for me, just a period to be alert and ever mindful of the potential danger of making the slightest error of judgement that could lead to catastrophic consequences for either myself or my shooting companions. And for me this requires having my mind crystal clear and so it is very simple, I do not consume alcohol before or when I am out shooting and I frown upon the wisdom of those that do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Perhaps some of us are at the other side of the equation, because for me from the very beginning whenever I have had a gun in my hand it has never meant ‘party time’ for me, just a period to be alert and ever mindful of the potential danger of making the slightest error of judgement that could lead to catastrophic consequences for either myself or my shooting companions. And for me this requires having my mind crystal clear and so it is very simple, I do not consume alcohol before or when I am out shooting and I frown upon the wisdom of those that do. I really think you should lighten up. I imagine you're the kind of person who never lets his kids have a bag of sweets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STOTTO Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I really think you should lighten up. I imagine you're the kind of person who never lets his kids have a bag of sweets. Not around guns that’s for sure, popcorn maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I go on two shoots roughly once or twice a week , on one of them I drive the guns about and on the other I drive the beaters around and I can honestly say I never touch a drink all day but that don't stop me enjoying both the shoots I go on . Now with all the health and safety regulations coming into our sport we look at it where prevention is better than cure , we don't ban drinks but we don't encourage it either. we stop after the second drive which is around 11 o clock and have soup and sausage rolls and at dinner there is a bottle of beer per person at the tables with soft drinks and tea and coffee laid on if required. On the other shoot I go on I very rarely see a beater having a drink , they are given a hot meal at dinner time and a bottle or a can of beer to go with it and most ( if not all ) take it home with them and drink it when they relax in front of the t v . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I can't believe some of the comments on this thread ( and not just this one ) I really can't. Why do some shooters always insist others do as they do? Why? Whatever happened to live and let live or each to their own? The title of this thread is 'tipple', not 'session' for crying out loud. If you don't like to drink on a shoot day then don't. What could be simpler? It is very rarely I drink alcohol at anytime of the year, and my best mate wont even drink when we go out, but both of us make gallons of sloe gin ( I've made damson brandy for this year ) and we both have a 'tipple' on driven days. I'd like to think as mature responsible adults we would be capable of behaviour suitable and relevant to any given circumstances. We have one suggesting he informs his FEO about his behaviour and another who reckons his mate starts at 5pm! Is it me? On driven days it's most likely dark at 4pm so where is the problem? My FEO is also a shooter and I know for a fact he likes a drink, and although I've never shot with him I can't in all reality envision him refusing a 'tipple' when the hip flask is passed round, nor making a note of others in his mental notebook for future reference. If I refused to shoot with anyone who'd had a 'tipple' on driven days I'd be pretty lonely. I don't think I've ever been on a shoot day where there hasn't been the offer of a 'tipple'. On a big shoot I used to beat on, a couple of the regular guns would bring huge flasks of steaming hot coffee laced with Baileys for the other guns and the beaters; I can't recall anyone getting squiffy let alone unsafe. Tot up all the shoots that take place in this country in a season and how frequently they shoot and divide that by the number of shooting accidents associated to drink. Now bearing this in mind, if you don't approve, then don't do it, but leave alone all those who do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennett Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Amen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Well said Scully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Remember if your shooting in Scotland, the drink, drive limit is less than the rest of the U.K. So maybe a tipple would put you over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Remember if your shooting in Scotland, the drink, drive limit is less than the rest of the U.K. So maybe a tipple would put you over.I was only thinking about that the other month. I'm up in Scotland this weekend, thanks for the reminder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 Tot up all the shoots that take place in this country in a season and how frequently they shoot and divide that by the number of shooting accidents associated to drink. Now bearing this in mind, if you don't approve, then don't do it, but leave alone all those who do. The last part of your post says it all for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 30, 2015 Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) I can't believe some of the comments on this thread ( and not just this one ) I really can't. Why do some shooters always insist others do as they do? Why? Whatever happened to live and let live or each to their own? The title of this thread is 'tipple', not 'session' for crying out loud. If you don't like to drink on a shoot day then don't. What could be simpler? It is very rarely I drink alcohol at anytime of the year, and my best mate wont even drink when we go out, but both of us make gallons of sloe gin ( I've made damson brandy for this year ) and we both have a 'tipple' on driven days. I'd like to think as mature responsible adults we would be capable of behaviour suitable and relevant to any given circumstances. We have one suggesting he informs his FEO about his behaviour and another who reckons his mate starts at 5pm! Is it me? On driven days it's most likely dark at 4pm so where is the problem? My FEO is also a shooter and I know for a fact he likes a drink, and although I've never shot with him I can't in all reality envision him refusing a 'tipple' when the hip flask is passed round, nor making a note of others in his mental notebook for future reference. If I refused to shoot with anyone who'd had a 'tipple' on driven days I'd be pretty lonely. I don't think I've ever been on a shoot day where there hasn't been the offer of a 'tipple'. On a big shoot I used to beat on, a couple of the regular guns would bring huge flasks of steaming hot coffee laced with Baileys for the other guns and the beaters; I can't recall anyone getting squiffy let alone unsafe. Tot up all the shoots that take place in this country in a season and how frequently they shoot and divide that by the number of shooting accidents associated to drink. Now bearing this in mind, if you don't approve, then don't do it, but leave alone all those who do. Top post from someone who clearly understands shooting etiquette. If people want together for a social and drink more than they ought to there is nothing wrong with this after the shoot. Sometimes drinking sessions are planned. No one drives, there are no catastrophes and all that is remembered is a cracking days shooting and a bit of a sore head. Edited November 30, 2015 by Whitebridges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeadWasp Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Judging by the pick-up I followed through Sussex and Hants today I'd say best to err on the side of caution. Weaving from side to side with the tailgate down and the hard top lid up - 2 very worried looking gun dogs in the back in a vehicle crate. At first I thought it was a short hop and the dogs were cooling off - but after 9 miles and the weaving I figured they were out of order. The poor dogs will be in a **** state after being chilled like that. Couldn't get their attention...................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 Judging by the pick-up I followed through Sussex and Hants today I'd say best to err on the side of caution. Weaving from side to side with the tailgate down and the hard top lid up - 2 very worried looking gun dogs in the back in a vehicle crate. At first I thought it was a short hop and the dogs were cooling off - but after 9 miles and the weaving I figured they were out of order. The poor dogs will be in a **** state after being chilled like that. Couldn't get their attention...................... I have heard from some of the people we have had on a shooting day in the past where the police have stopped the guns when they have left some shoots , how right this is ? I don't know , so have any of you heard weather this is true or not ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 A long time ago, a local village bobby asked to see the gun licenses of all the guns taking part in an estate shoot. He was not that village's bobby for much longer after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DannyS Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I dont see what the problem is my doctor has always told me 2 pints of wine a night is good for you, so think how good 2 bottles must be!! and to think how much alcohol improves my dancing and wit, it must be doing wonders for the shooting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I think people who drink a lot, think they can handle drink, but non-drinkers know that they themselves can't. The best advice I ever took note of was when my dad said, "Don't start drinking until you are 21". I never tasted beer until I was 26, and can't understand so many people's preoccupation with booze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 I dont see what the problem is my doctor has always told me 2 pints of wine a night is good for you, so think how good 2 bottles must be!! and to think how much alcohol improves my dancing and wit, it must be doing wonders for the shooting! I hope you meant '2 glasses' and not '2 pints'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STOTTO Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) To me, do you consume alcohol during the course of your shooting activity is an absolute, ‘No Brainer’? And from ‘The Horse’s Mouth’, BASC’s Health and Safety Guidance, page 25 http://basc.org.uk/shooting/health-safety-2/ And if you are still not convinced, from the CPSA website; ‘Ten Key Points of Safety’, Point 9 https://www.cpsa.co.uk/userfiles/file/RefSafetyA4CPSA_PromptCardsPC1SafetyA4x2.pdf A word about alcohol It may be that you have a break for lunch during the day. Is alcohol served/ available? Obviously, you would not, indeed should not, allow anyone who is obviously drunk anywhere near a gun. But where to you draw the line? Alcohol is a powerful drug (a depressant) and affects different people in different ways. Our advice is simple – guns and alcohol (and drugs for that matter) do not mix! Would you let a surgeon who had just had a couple of glasses of wine operate on your child? No! Nor would I. The safest option is for all Guns to not take alcohol during the shoot. Edited December 1, 2015 by STOTTO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 (edited) To me, do you consume alcohol during the course of your shooting activity is an absolute, ‘No Brainer’? And from ‘The Horse’s Mouth’, BASC’s Health and Safety Guidance, page 25 http://basc.org.uk/shooting/health-safety-2/ A word about alcohol It may be that you have a break for lunch during the day. Is alcohol served/ available? Obviously, you would not, indeed should not, allow anyone who is obviously drunk anywhere near a gun. But where to you draw the line? Alcohol is a powerful drug (a depressant) and affects different people in different ways. Our advice is simple – guns and alcohol (and drugs for that matter) do not mix! Would you let a surgeon who had just had a couple of glasses of wine operate on your child? No! Nor would I. The safest option is for all Guns to not take alcohol during the shoot. What he said, why cant people have a good day without it? Edited December 1, 2015 by Davyo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted December 1, 2015 Report Share Posted December 1, 2015 We had an orthopedic surgeon living opposite who was brilliant before lunch but sometimes had to be substituted half-way through an operation after lunch, due to drink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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