In response to psuguru:

I am 6 1/2 ft. tall with a metabolism like an NHRA top fuel dragster. As has been stated, there are those of us who can handle our liquor and there are those who can't and since the same rule has to apply to everyone, then I would rather give up a few drinks to keep the planes, pilots, and especially the spectators safe and happy. Also the fact that as a member of the r/c community I am personally reponsable for the public's perception of this sport, that is enough reason right there to disallow alcohol near spinning props (or ducted fans, or turbines for that matter). I am also a paintball player and if anyone has studied the history of the sport, or watched national news in the 90's for that matter, you know that (because of public perception) the sport almost died several times over the past 20 years. Somehow paintball has survived the liberals and irresponsable players, but I don't want r/c to have to fight the odds just to be.

drinking impairs your vision and motor skills. why would you put yourself, your members, your field, your airplane, and spectators at risk?
drink when you build!!  even that ain't pretty at times!! but i do love them beers!!

If the "forum" that may or may not be a "club" is affiliated with the AMA, drinking and flying is a violation of the safety code.

2009 Official
Academy of Model Aeronautics
National Model Aircraft Safety Code
Effective January 1, 2006
GENERAL
9. I will not operate my model aircraft while under the influence of alcohol or within eight (8) hours of having consumed alcohol.

Guys Remember, Dont Drink and Drive, Drink Before you drive !!

It would be hard enough to reconcile injuring someone else while totally sober with pre-flight tested equipment in good working order.
If you are impaired in any way because of drugs, alcohol, wrong prescription eyeglasses, senility, known substandard equipment, etc. and then plow into someone....

....it's inexcusable.

i often fly when having a few beers, but its sat at home in front of the PC and Areofly Pro running.

At the field its got to be a big no, and even after a heavy night before you need to think if you are really clear headed enough to fly

I like drinking beer as much as the next guy, heck its expected here in Canada. But, I would hate to crash my plane for no good reason. The pints can wait until after for sure.

At the peg board, they used AMA cards so some were in violation. I will say the forum, if you are in it I'm sorry. Its The******************, it was the Nashpros 09. I dont mean to put them down, friendly group just bad decisions. I did notice the beers taking affect when you gota guy trying to do a wheelie down the runway on a golf cart( with peole on the back for weight) and another guy trying to do a wheelie on a four wheeler. ( no body was flying at the time but they were tearing up the runway[]. I wished I could have seen some of these pilots with out the beer because they could fly. I guess one thing did come out of this was when they crashed, they were still happy and just picked up what remained of there plane.

"Drunken flying" is actually a pretty popular "drinking game" now that there are pleanty of fight simulators (even rc aircraft simulators available). But flying an actual rc aircraft when drunk is ill advised. Not that it doesn't happen, but it shouldn't especially when there are people or other flyers around.

heres my take on this. Do Not Drink Before or during flying. if your at a fly in and you feel like you want a couple wile your sitting around the fire telling good old fishing or flying story's like you know ( i built the fastest plane in the world but i crashed it before anyone could see it!!!!) i think that is all in good fun! that is how and only how anyone should drink at a fly in. i don't know im 26 and i'm tired of partying all the time but i dont mind kicking back and shooting the **** with some good buddy's after a good days flying and retiring to my tent or camper for the night for a food nights sleep and getting ready for the next days flying.. (how does that sound ????)

Wow, never would have thought there would be a question about drinking while flying. Plain stupid in my opinion. Afterwords is an entirely different matter to me though. Just please don't make so much noise from your campsite that you wake me up! Seriously, after the flying is done, it should come down to site rules and responsible behavior. If you know you'll get rowdy or be tempted to get out a plane again after you've had a few, then don't even bring it. Too bad common sense isn't so common anymore.

I am sure everyone would agree that working with a power saw is not a prudent idea while drinking any sought of alcohol. Anyone who engages in this sought of activity stands a good chance of hurting his/herself or cutting off a limb or finger or two. Flying a plane with a prop spinning in the tens of thousand of RPMS and traveling at some high rates of speeds, the same person stands an even better chance of hurting someone else and usually not themself...

Drinking and flying, naw.. Bad idea.

Drinking and driving? Well, if you're too drunk to walk, what's the option?

Just kidding of course!

Chris

here's a few pics of why not to drink and fly

Thirty years in the law enforcement world.
You get to see why, if you drink. Do the drinking in the lazy boy at the house.

and another

Some ways back in the thread Guru mentioned how some of the beer today has gotten stronger. Most of the low end beer we buy today in the western states is only 3.2. This week I bought my winter case of Fat Tire beer, Yumm Yumm!!! I had a bottle while in my shop installing an engine and discovered I could tell I had just had a brew??? That never happens with something like a Bud?? I checked the lable, it's 5.2, wouldn't take much to sneak up and slap a west coaster in the back of the head without him knowing what hit him. As someone else mentioned about drinking and building, I like a couple of brews while covering but if I have three in a row I stop covering or everyone will notice when the third beer took effect.

Why didn't you post this over on the other site???

Why bring your concerns over here?

Not aloud beer race track so I bring vodka and put it in my orange juice.mmmhick

For a guy who wanted to leave drinking in his past, thank friggen God I can go to one place and do something I LOVE where alcohol is not involved. Living in Wisconsin, it ain't easy to find non-alcohol activities. But it's not allowed at my field and it's pretty cool. I love it. Airplanes and no alcohol. Besides if you can't go to an RC field and take a break from drinking you got a problem.

I lurk alot, however this one deserves my observation:

Agreed with TBONES, however...

At any point in time did you feel you were in danger? Did you see pilot's flying that indicated they were impaired? Did you see pilots flying without the ablity to control their aircraft? Did you see aircraft aiming toward you in a dangerous manner? Were spectators at risk? Did you say anything to anyone? Did you ask? Did you verify a specific pilot was drinking and then within moments was flying? Did you administer a field test?

According to your post, the only ones acting-a-fool were riding/driving vehicles, ripping up the runway.

You said it wasn't a club. It may have been on someones personal land. Private land owner can do anything they want to do. Maybe the cards were just there for frequence control. I do not see anything on the AMA site for an event this past weekend in Tenn.

I was recently at a warbird event and there were plenty of the senior type pilots having a cold one in the back and then flying their 100 mph Mustangs, didn't bother me or anyone else. I would never be so bold to come into a public forum like this and specificly identify people who may or may not have been drinking and flying. Such a direct "calling out" may come with repercussions. Seems to me, the only problem was you. Don't go back and you may not be allow back. In fact, if I were you, i may lie low for a bit.

EDIT: I should have read all the remaining post, I did not see this:
That is a group I avoid like the H1N1, not the group you want to cross. Good luck with that.

Man... I wish I could have been there. Sounds like they had a blast.

Don't post false information. The event was held on private land. The golf cart driver hosted the event and helped prepare the runway on his own time; the guy on the fourwheeler doesn't even drink and they all had been wheeling the golf cart and four wheeler the whole event. Had nothing to do with beer, just having some fun with fellow pilots, who said you had to fly to enjoy yourself. Its one thing to discuss drinking/flying, its another to assume things about people you don't know.

I have watched this discussion off and on all day today. While I would like to say that I am surprised at the number of people who have posted that it is okay to drink and fly I have to say that I'm not surprised at all. There is a serious lack of personnel responsibility in this country today and it is just natural that it spills into our hobby. Our Club, the AMA and our Field Lease prohibit possession of alcohol on the property so we don't have an issue with this. Drink and Fly why there's nothing to discuss. It is irresponsible in the extreme. Remember after you drink and fly you might just have to drive home.

Well said.