A New Zealand army base has bolstered its boozing rules after fears a practice of "stockpiling" drinks may have contributed to the death of an Australian soldier.
Lance Corporal Duncan John Orr, 31, had been on a two-week training exercise based at Burnham Military Camp in February last year.
On his last day, his new mates shouted him beers and rum mixers, an inquest heard in August.
About 11pm on February 15, the camp's garrison bar closed, but the soldiers took stockpiled drinks outside to the garden bar.
A highly-intoxicated Lance Corporal Orr, a keen long-distance runner, then decided to leave his mates some time after midnight as he wanted his Friday night to kick on in Christchurch.
Wearing black jeans and dark blue T-shirt, he was running north on State Highway 1 - just to the right of the fog line - when he was struck from behind by a truck and trailer at about 12.30am, February 16.
A post-mortem examination found an alcohol level of 238mg per 100ml of blood - at the "high end of intoxication".
Today, Coroner Richard McElrea released his inquest finding.
He concluded that although the inquest highlighted some aspects of NZDF policy regarding the provision of alcohol, the "key aspect" was that Lance Corporal Orr chose to leave the controlled environment of Burnham Military Camp that night and venture onto SH1.
"No other person should feel responsible for the outcome," he said.
Following the incident, but independent of it, there has been a review of the NZDF policy on alcohol consumption.
Burnham has also since clamped down on drinking practices on base.
Coroner McElrea welcomed the changes and felt there was no need to make any formal recommendations.
The inquest heard it had been common for soldiers at mess bars to "stockpile" drinks and come closing time, leave with them.
One soldier said they had been playing a "patriotic" drinking game called 'Save the Queen' that night with Lance Corporal Orr, which consisted of "rescuing a coin from the bottom of your glass".
Major Peter Bowyer, officer in command of managing the camp grounds, said that since Lance Corporal Orr's death, the camp had introduced a range of host responsibility initiatives.
They included better training for officers, and orderly staff who perform night patrols; a review into bar opening hours; and a new practice of security staff questioning anyone leaving Burnham after closing time, and if necessary, detaining them for the night.
Drinking games, bulk sales, and the serving of shots and "multiple top shelf concoctions" are now banned, Mr Bowyer said.
"The expectation is that all soldiers and officers adhere to the NZDF stance on responsible use of alcohol and the concept of looking after your mates," Mr Bowyer said.
- Kurt Bayer of NZME. News Service
