The Air Force has prohibited the sale of packaged alcohol between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. on installations in the Kaiserslautern Military Community, amid concerns about alcohol-related incidents. The ban affects the sale of all beer, wine and liquor at 24-hour on-base shoppettes. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Alcohol sales will be banned indefinitely between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. at AAFES facilities in the Kaiserslautern Military Community, Air Force officials confirmed Tuesday.
In December, amid concerns about alcohol-related incidents, Brig. Gen. Charles K. Hyde, the 86th Airlift Wing commander, asked the Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores to temporarily suspend early morning alcohol sales, saying he would review the policy in several months to determine whether it was effective.
Apparently, it was. Hyde informed AAFES in a memorandum late last month that he “assessed the results of this initiative over the last two months and determined it is beneficial to our military community to continue suspension of alcohol sales during these hours.”
AAFES is complying with Hyde’s request to extend the ban indefinitely at its KMC facilities, AAFES-Europe spokesman Lt. Col. Al Hing said Tuesday.
The ban applies to the shoppette on Ramstein Air Base and the Army’s shoppette on Pulaski Barracks, the only 24-hour facilities that sell alcohol on U.S. military installations in Kaiserslautern. Hyde noted in the memorandum that the commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Kaiserslautern supports continuing the policy.
Hyde decided to extend the suspension based on feedback from wing leadership and after talking with airmen, base officials said in a written statement.
“Targeting late hours will help in our effort to reduce irresponsible behavior related to alcohol consumption” and help airmen “make the right decision, especially during the restricted hours,” the statement said.
Other U.S. military installations in Europe have imposed similar restrictions, including two last month: Conn Barracks in Schweinfurt and the Army garrison in Grafenwöhr. Spangdahlem Air Base prohibited late sales in 2009.
