Drunken sailors shame Royal New Zealand Navy, Admiral orders sailors to sharpen up and stop boozing

>Embarrassing incidents involving intoxicated Royal New Zealand Navy personnel have led to Rear Admiral Garin Golding telling commanders to personally brief their sailors on healthy drinking practices.

>The issue has even made it to be Beehive, with military chiefs briefing Minister of Defence Judith Collins on what she has called “several alleged incidents of varying degrees of seriousness”.

>Golding, the Chief of Navy, told the *Herald* a number of incidents at various levels of the Navy had led to the directive, which is a formal order.

>The incidents were now under investigation, Golding said, and he had clearly laid out expectations about the “misuse of alcohol” to all Navy personnel
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The *Herald* has been told some incidents involved senior commanders, others junior staff, and they occurred in New Zealand, Australia and across the Pacific.

>Those incidents are believed to be among a cluster that led to the formal order being issued on July 16.

>Golding told the *Herald* he would not comment further on the nature of the incidents.

>He said his directive to sailors – the term used for all who serve in [the Navy](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hmnzs-manawanui-sinking-100m-navy-ship-was-not-fully-insured-only-third-party-insurance-to-cover-some-of-clean-up/WAJYS6MOXNAONETPS6QPPP6VVI/) – was that alcohol was a normal part of society but Navy consumption “must be responsible”.

>He said it must be at levels allowing the Navy to maintain its effectiveness, readiness and reputation.