Thread: Liquid Courage

Could it be replace with inhaled courage? Does the issuance of booze before battle still occur in the world? Outlawed in some countries? What about a few tokes before battle, does pot have the same effect as Rum has had in many previous wars and battles? Canadians are known for their drinking exploits so without further ado, take a look at this...

https://web.viu.ca/davies/H101/Rum.C...tionalPost.htm

Fighting battles, putting your life on the line, seems to require some extraordinary courage that for some soldiers/sailors needs to be artificially induced by drugs. Marijuana is used in the medical field to reduce anxiety, so should it become a staple for a fighting force? Courage is necessary but does being impaired actually mean one's courageous enough to fight? Are brawls at local watering holes evidence?

Originally Posted by zinjanthropos

Could it be replace with inhaled courage? Does the issuance of booze before battle still occur in the world? Outlawed in some countries? What about a few tokes before battle, does pot have the same effect as Rum has had in many previous wars and battles? Canadians are known for their drinking exploits so without further ado, take a look at this...

https://web.viu.ca/davies/H101/Rum.C...tionalPost.htm

Fighting battles, putting your life on the line, seems to require some extraordinary courage that for some soldiers/sailors needs to be artificially induced by drugs. Marijuana is used in the medical field to reduce anxiety, so should it become a staple for a fighting force? Courage is necessary but does being impaired actually mean one's courageous enough to fight? Are brawls at local watering holes evidence?

One wonders why the Canadian "psalm-singers" did not work to end the war, instead of drinking. It would seem all that killing was far worse than the boozing. A quick search indicates it is not clear which, if any of the world's armies issue "liquid courage" (or other "drugs"), but it is a safe bet that it will find its way to the front lines no matter what (1, 2).

Alcohol impacts the GABA receptor in the brain. It is the same receptor that is activated by opiates and benzodiazepines. All hyper-polarize the neurons, and by some mysterious process calms "shaky" nerves. Have read many stories about the Red Army's prodigious use of vodka when fighting the Germans. And there is very good reason for that too. Recalling a British comment in this regard - "You have never fought a war until you've fought the Germans." The Brits would certainly know, especially after the Somme.

Marijuana on the other hand seems likely to be detrimental to fighting wars. It innervates the cannabinoid receptor, with different possible outcomes. Many users might just want to sit around smoking joints and listening to music, and getting into the munchies (3, 4). Not very conducive to the killer instinct, but you never know until one tries it! That is, if facing a firing squad vs. battle, they would likely be shutting down the Pink Floyd, throwing out the candy bars, and heading out with weapons drawn! But you really have to be there to know, or so it would seem.......


1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_drugs_in_warfare

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._by_militaries

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_cannabis