Does your gun club allow booze?

[Swing]

My gun cub doesn't allow any alcohol on the premises for liability reasons. In talking with some other folks, I've found that some clubs allow it and even use its sales for keeping up the grounds.

So, I am just curious, does your gun club or range allow booze on the grounds? If so, how do they police who can imbibe?

Personally, I enjoy a good drink, but never at the gun club or when operating firearms.

 

[Konstantin835]

The club I go to does, they even have it in the vending machine I think. I've always thought that was a terrible idea but I've never seen someone shoot after drinking. The only time I've seen people drinking was after they were done shooting or just sitting around talking.

 

[InfamousLegend]

I will never fire weapons with people that I do not explicitly trust while they are drunk and I have to drink with them enough times to understand how alcohol affects their judgement. I have been around several people that would get very angry while drunk and fortunately no firearms were involved and that is why I feel the way I do. Also no hard alcohol, just beer. That said I wouldn't go to a range where alcohol was served as I don't know the other people and how alcohol affects them unless you were only allowed to drink after shooting.

 

[Josh45]

I like to have one or two with my buddies.

BUT NEVER WHEN THERE IS A FIREARM INVOLVED.

I don't belong to any gun clubs in particular but both ranges I do go to do not allow it.
Booze and firearms don't mix. It would be dangerous as it can and will impair your judgement. Not that you dont know that but Im just saying that it is kinda ridiculous for that other club you mention allows it to happen.

IANAL,

But they could get that range shut down because of that seeing as some people will take advantage of that. They should really think about re-doing that one.

 

[Nushif]

In the German gun club I learned shooting at we had an attached Biergarten. But then, someone of age 16 was also expected to show the restraint to not drink while or before shooting.

Most gun clubs around here don't actually have a "socializing" area as most shooters who join them go there without smiling, shoot their guns and manage not ever even cracking a grin, much less socializing. Makes me pretty uneasy if people aren't even willing to engage in minor socialities, but hey, it's a free country.

I'd say off the cuff it's a bad idea given the drinking culture, or lack thereof here.

 

[RTR_RTR]

If they did, I wouldn't be there. Firm rule - no guns and alcohol.

 

[CoRoMo]

They do not.

 

[mbopp]

When the clubhouse is open they serve alcohol. But one drink puts you off limits on all the ranges for the day.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

are you kidding??? LOL

We have enough problems getting people to keep the muzzle pointed in the right direction!
Booze and guns, how stupid is that....

 

[MJD]

I have never seen a situation where firearms and hootch are a good mix.

It seems to me that, like most things, there is a time and place for alcohol. The best time for drinking is with your buddies after the guns are cooled off and put up.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Just a heads up, if this turns into another teetotaler vs. imbiber thread, it will be locked.

 

[rugerman07]

No, guns & booze is a bad idea.

 

[mortablunt]

Not a member of any target shooting group. I'm not legally allowed liquor anyway. Liquor and anything dangerous is not a good combination.

 

[Onward Allusion]

Good way to get kicked out quickly at mine.

 

[Old krow]

No they do not. I believe that it would get someone kicked out.

In the German gun club

I had a Col tell me once that "the Germans have been brewing beer since God was a Corporal." I don't know that I'd want to shoot and drink, but if I were back in Germany I'd shoot less.

 

[Murphy4570]

I honestly don't know.

Not the place I go to kick back some beers, anyways. Shooting beer cans, now that's another story!

 

[Gtimothy]

Booze, Guns and "Hey, watch this!" - not a good combination!

 

[floydster]

We have drinks just at our meetings, never on the line or when there is a shoot.

 

[Ryanxia]

I misread that as gun range

My RANGE allows alcohol on the premises but not the consumption. Off topic but I already started writing a reply.

 

[bigfatdave]

yes, with the addendum that it is simply not addressed by the club's charter / rules

shooting while intoxicated would be frowned upon, however ... if you encountered anyone

 

[doubleh]

My club doesn't allow it and if they did I wouldn't be a member. I run into enough people at the range now that scare me when they are sober. I sure wouldn't want to be around them when drinking. In my book guns and hootch don't mix and I won't be around anyone that is mixing them.

That doesn't mean I am a teetotaler. I'm done for the day so I think I'll have a shot and relax for awhile, kick back and read a book.

 

[gordy]

Our club put a ban on all alcohol. not allowed on the grounds at all, We had a bit of a problem with a member(no longer) sitting all day drinking and shooting.
I think there should be no alcohol and guns mixed ever. Just a bad think for the public to see or hear about.

 

[Ramone]

It is not specifically prohibited- however, I have seen members taken aside and spoken to about it. I haven't seen anyone take it poorly- which speaks more to our RO's dipolmatic ways than anything else.

Edited to add-

I remember, as a child, going to my grandfathers VFW range, which was downstairs from the bar... a fair bit of hard drinking went on there, and a few impromptu shooting matches/bets that were likely booze fueled. this would have been late '60s- early '70s.

 

[Alec]

When the clubhouse is open they serve alcohol. But one drink puts you off limits on all the ranges for the day.

IMO, the way it should be done. I have no problem with clubs that sell or allow alcohol, as long as drinking any amount disqualifies you from shooting.

 

[scaatylobo]

In the clubhouse only and no guns to be handled during or after the bar sign is kit - so to speak.

All members know that expulsion is what follows breaking the rules.