---
title: "Sweet, Sweet Alcohol Is Coming To A Commissary Near You"
date: "2018-05-02"
modified: "2018-05-02"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/military-life/beer-wine-alcohol-military-commissary/"
categories:
  - "Field Guide"
  - "Military Life"
---

# Sweet, Sweet Alcohol Is Coming To A Commissary Near You

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/02/18988140-1.jpg>)

Rejoice, overworked service members of the world: the Department of Defense plans on putting beer and wine on the shelves of local commissaries at some point in the next 90 days, [according](<https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2018/05/01/coming-soon-beer-and-wine-to-your-local-commissary/>) to a DoD memo [signed](<https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2018/05/01/coming-soon-beer-and-wine-to-your-local-commissary/>) by the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness Robert Wilkie and obtained by Military Times.

- The decision was a no-brainer: making beer and wine available at commissaries "will increase customer satisfaction and convenience, and align with common commercial grocery store practices,” according to the April 27 memo.
- While spirits are excluded from the menu for fairly obvious reasons (see: [Article 134](<https://www.ucmj.us/sub-chapter-10-punitive-articles/934-article-134-general-article>) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), Military Times [reports](<https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2018/05/01/coming-soon-beer-and-wine-to-your-local-commissary/>) that the prices will at least remain comparable to those libations available at the military exchanges — although it's worth noting that prices at commissaries [tend to fluctuate](<https://www.military.com/spouse/military-benefits/commissary-101-how-to-shop-at-the-commissary.html>) on a weekly basis.
- The big question: Plenty of scientific research [suggests](<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2598443/>) that making even tobacco available at military commissaries is a challenge to short-term readiness. Wouldn't that logic apply to the specter of chronic [binge-drinking](<https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(08)00969-0/pdf>) that's proven an [ongoing problem](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-military-alcohol-idUSKCN0XX27K>) among various service branches?

[According](<https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2018/05/01/coming-soon-beer-and-wine-to-your-local-commissary/>) to Military Times, commissary officials will dispense beer and wine along the same rules and regulations as military exchanges, including "responsible use." Still, nothing beat slamming down a cold one after a long day of standing by to stand by.

*This post is part of BULLET POINTS, our running SITREP of the military stories you need to read now. Sign up for more updates in your inbox [here](<https://link.taskandpurpose.com/join/79r/signup-task-purpose>).*

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## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

### Author social links  
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[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbkeller/>)  
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