European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                June 27, 1991 the stars and stripes a. Pago 3central come targets go drinking v a v pc v so a restricted to curb by Luke Britt Middle East Bureau Dhahran  a abuse of alcohol by . Troops in Bahrain has prompted the . Central come to tighten restrictions on Scricc members travel. To that country from . An order issued Early this month by Central Comdr a Forward commander it. Geri. William a Pagonis limits travel to Bahrain to official business and to recreational trips sanctioned by the command. The. V order states that permission to enter Bahrain can be granted Only by Pagonis office under previous guidelines servicemen abcs could travel to Bahrain with a letter of authorization signed by a lieutenant colonel or above. The new order came after several alcohol related. Incidents involving americans occurred in Bahrain and after some service members were caught smuggling \. Alcohol into  bahraini and saudi officials said. A. A t t a a 4/.t a americans have started Many fights Here and drive drunk arid break things a a bahraini police officer said. A we asked the military not to Send them  american service members apprehended in Bahrain. Are turned Over to american military authorities the officer said. Bahraini officials refused to describe \. Specific incidents or say if the emirate planned to file. Charges against . Central come officials would not confirm or deny the bahraini officers remarks. A a a. A. But a command spokesman confirmed that concerns about alcohol use prompted Pagonis order and said that some soldiers had been detained by saudi and bahraini authorities in alcohol related incidents. The spokesman would not say How Many  Type of incidents have occurred. A he  and severity of incidents however by saying a if you compared the number of incidents in this theater to  duis drunk. Driving in the states and Europe 1 bet this theater beats them  a a a  about 200 american Servic members permanently assigned to Bahrain before operation. Desert shield said a spokesman for american forces there. Bahraini officials said that alcohol related. Incidents involving americans were  the. War. To. A Vav Vav Quot Vav. A a v a bahraini ministry of Interior official said his government asked Central come to curtail troops. Travel to Bahrain but a command spokesman said that no official request had come from Bahrain. A if the Bahrain government has expressed concern about americans entering the emirate from saudi a. The spokesman said a we done to know who they. Expressed it  y a a a a a a a a a v a a.  it is illegal to possess or consume alcohol in  and last August Gen. It. Norman Schwarzkopf extended the prohibition to . Troops and civilians serving in the Middle East waivers to the policy were granted if requested by commanders within countries it where alcohol consumption is Legal. ,. A amps  fun seeking soldiers in Bahrain Are now limited to two Beers apiece under a revised . Central come policy. Troops near Bahrain. There Are 53.000 troops still in the theater. The map below shows the approximate unofficial numbers of troops in two a saudi arabian cities close to Bahrain. / Kuwait  Bahrain less than 500 troops Sas Sharon Kilday Schwarzkopf ban on drinking was lifted in March. Although service members Are still not allowed to drink in , troops stationed there began travelling from Dhahran across a 15-mile causeway to Bahrain where alcohol is second Only to Oil in revenues. Generated according to an official with the Bahrain. A tourism project office. A a a. V a we had to let anyone with a letter go into Bahrain a said staff sgt. Percy Williams a reservist assigned to the 89th my brigade in Dhahran. A getting a letter signed by a lieutenant colonel Isnit that difficult and if you re an la lieutenant colonel or above you can just sign your own  a. A a a a. Several incidents of attempted smuggling of alcohol involved officers above the rank of lieutenant colonel he said. In one instance Williams said a Case of Beer was found in a vehicle driven by an army colonel. The colonel told saudi Border agents his vehicle had a been searched at a previous checkpoint but failed to produce the form Given to Drivers after their vehicles have been checked. The agents insisted on searching  and the Beer was found in the  the Beer ,.Williams said but a report was never filed on the officer v. A v a a service members caught with alcohol by saudi. Customs  turned Over to a military Liaison office on the causeway where a report is supposed to be filed with Central come and saudi customs. Military police at the Border said that before the increased restrictions Only about a third of those soldiers caught with alcohol were reported. A. A a we a just bring the  our office and let him sit for a while a said an my wh6 asked that his name not be used Quot then Send him on his Way. We Only wrote up the Guys who were  a the my said this was not a command policy but a this is our policy a because most incidents involve  36 ounces of Beer. A a a a a a however at roughly the same Lime As Pagonis order went into effect saudi customs officials began asking for copies of the reports said sgt. Mike French of the 838th my co. French said customs officials have said they Are going to Fine the . Government for. Each smuggling incident involving an american. A a although the possibility of levying fines against the United states has been  within saudi. A a a. Government circles a saudi customs official said he did not  government intended to.  with Iti saudi citizens Are fined a minimum of 500 _ riyals about $135, and face one month in jail for a first offence alcohol Possession charge according to a customs agent. Y Quot v a a. A. The saudi government has not mentioned the. Possibility of fines to Central come a command. Spokesman said. A. A a. Customs officials have also begun making. Servic members Stop at every saudi checkpoint on the causeway. In the past american troops could bypass most stops by showing their identification cards. 1 he drive across the causeway then look about 40 minutes. It now takes More than an hour. 4 morale welfare and recreation trips to Bahrain. Began about the same Lime As Schwarzkopf ban on drinking was lifted. Later the us opened a Center on the Island. Employees from both organizations \ reported a serious incidents involving Drunken. Service members. A. Y 4,. A a a a Quot we be Gottsch Calls on More than one occasion about soldiers who were drunk and disorderly in downtown Bahrain a said Kathalyn Cox of the Uso. A the were coming Oyer supposedly to go on hours and they a head straight for the nearest bar and drink All  / Pagonis order allows soldiers to travel to Bahrain on mar and Uso Tours but they Are not allowed to leave their assigned groups and Are Only allowed to drink two Beers during their stay. Mar arid Uso employees said they have had few alcohol related problems under the new Rule. A v a a a Quot Trp bps als . Ii to Board the Climard  is a recreation ship docked at the Island and used exclusively by american forces. The re Are no. Restriction ten servicemen Bersy alcohol consumption while on the Cunard Princess Central Comdr a \ a Quot spokesman said. A exact numbers of troops travelling to Bahrain were. Not available but military police stationed at the \. Border said the number has decreased dramatically. Since the new order went into effect. The number of. Incidents has similarly ,they said. A a. Military police interviewed before Pagonis order was. Issued said , about three incidents of a. Attempted alcohol smuggling a week most involving. Two or three cans of Beer on saturday military police said Only two americans have been caught with alcohol at the saudi Bahrain Border since travel to Bahrain was. A restricted. A if you compared the number of incidents in this theater to fights and duis. Drunk driving in the states and Europe i bet this theater beats them ail a a Central come spokesman