Alcohol Related Incident in the Army
May 30, 2026Alcohol Related Incident in the Army
An alcohol related incident in the Army is defined by no specific regulation. Instead, an alcohol related incident (ARI) is typically defined by each local installation, sometimes through a local policy letter signed by the CG or lower-level Commander. Alcohol related incidents often required SIRs to be sent up and reported to a higher Command. The following offenses are often characterized as an alcohol related offense in the Army:
- DUIs;
- Drunk on duty;
- Domestic violence, when alcohol is a contributing factor;
- Assault, when alcohol is a contributing factor;
- Sexual offenses, when alcohol is a contributing factor;
- Sexual harassment, when alcohol is a contributing factor; or,
- Any other UCMJ offense, when alcohol is a contributing factor
An alcohol related incident in the Army is typically investigated by CID, MPI, or through a 15-6 investigation. If substantiated, Soldiers typically face the following adverse actions:
- Letter of Concern;
- GOMOR;
- Article 15;
- Referred/Relief for Cause OER;
- Referred/Relief for Cause NCOER;
- Administrative Separation (Enlisted);
- Administrative Elimination (Officer); or,
- Court-Martial
Of note, AR 600-85 requires that separation/elimination be initiated if there are two serious alcohol related incidents during a 12-month period of time.
Any Soldier that is suspected of an alcohol related incident in the Army should immediately consult an experienced Military Defense Lawyer. Decisions made during the investigation can make all the difference. Furthermore, a well-crafted rebuttal to an adverse action, which should include additional evidence collected by a lawyer, can result in the case being dropped. Finally, effective representation during the Court-Martial/separation process is vital to success (i.e. allegations being unsubstantiated and/or retention in the Military). While JAGs are available to assist, they are often over-worked, inexperienced, and unwilling or unable to provide adequate advice/assistance during an alcohol related incident investigation. A civilian Military Lawyer can be retained, which allows a Soldier to be represented by a proven lawyer with good former client reviews.
This Article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry. Attorney Barry is highly rated by former clients and has a proven track record of success. He has extensive experience with all types of Military Adverse Actions, including those related to an alcohol related incident in the Army.
The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Servicemembers worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.