Forces warned over drinking

The armed forces were criticised at a court martial for allowing a culture of excessive drinking.

Judge Advocate King - speaking after sentencing Royal Marines Lieutenant Peter Ainsworth, 27, to be dismissed from the service for failing properly to supervise under-age recruits at a celebration party - said that in his experience there was too much excessive drinking in the forces, and any notion that it was acceptable should be disabused as soon as possible.

The hearing at Portsmouth was told that a 17- year-old recruit died from vomit inhalation after a party at which Lt Ainsworth was the senior officer.