Beer for the Boys

"Beer for the Boys" has been running since 2007 with the aim of providing a free can of beer to servicemen and women flying home from Afghanistan on RAF TriStar aircraft, which are operated by 216 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Alcohol is not available to British troops whilst serving in the Middle East, making the experience of a cold thirst-quencher on the flight home all the more special.

Wing Commander Alistair Green, Officer Commanding 216 Squadron, said: "I am extremely proud of the Beer for the Boys campaign and all that 216 Squadron has achieved for this simple and extremely worthwhile cause. Many RAF personnel and civilians employed on 216 Squadron give up a great deal of their own time to support Beer for the Boys which is a great way for us, the RAF and for the UK public to say a small yet heartfelt thank you to all Servicemen returning from Afghanistan. Unsurprisingly, Beer for the Boys has been very well received and we hope to be able to continue this effort for as long as it is needed".

Initially the campaign aimed to provide a beer for every service person coming home from Afghanistan during the RIP (Relief in Place) operation, a biannual two-month operation to replace 9,000 troops at the end of their tour. Scottish and Newcastle Breweries were the first to offer their support by delivering 8,000 cans of Fosters, and generous donations were subsequently received from the Worshipful Company of Fuellers, the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, the Three Rooms Club and the Stratford-upon-Avon branch of the Aircrew Association. Grolsch also made a donation of 8000 cans during this period.

Having received such overwhelming support for the venture, we decided that we would like to be able to provide every passenger from Afghanistan to the UK with a beer, not just during the RIP periods. Nearly 1,000 troops return every week from Afghanistan to RAF Brize Norton aboard 216 Squadron TriStars (roughly 45,000 in total during 2008), many of whom are returning home for 2 weeks of rest and recuperation (R&R) in the middle of their tour.

On 3 September 2009 Sam Marsden, a journalist, contacted Beer for the Boys having read an article in the RAF Brize Norton 'Gateway' magazine. Sam offered help to increase awareness of Beer for the Boys and on 6 September 2009 Wing Commander Chadwick (then Officer Commanding 216 Squadron) was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live to publicise the cause. The idea was seized by the local and national media and the compaign was further publicised by appearances on BBC News and BBC Radio Derby. By the end of September donations totalling £10,873.90 and 7500 cans and bottles of beer (including 2000 cans of Pedigree from Marston's, 1920 cans of London Pride from Fuller's, 2500 bottles of Coors from MA Bars, 1000 cans of Courage Best from Wells and Young's and 80 bottles of Tiger Bitter from Everards) had been received at 216 Squadron HQ at RAF Brize Norton. These figures have been increasing ever since, so to see what the current totals are and who has made a donation to help achieve them, please click here. If you would like to help, please click here or the button at the top of the page to find out how to donate.

Update - 12 January 2010

It's been a busy couple of months since the national media coverage.  We have been inundated with donations of beer and cash, so thank you to everyone who has been so generous.  We would particularly like to thank Arkell's brewery for their beer donation and Fuller's for their continued fundraising.  Holt's and St Austell breweries have both offered us bottles of beer, which unfortunately we can't put on the aircraft.  Instead, we have put Holt's in touch with 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (who have strong connections to Lancashire), and St Austell's in contact with 1st Battalion, the Rifles (who have strong connections to Cornwall). Thanks to their donations, the lads from these units (which have both been in Afghanistan this year) will be able to have a good Christmas party.

Cheques have been continuing to pour in from across the UK and beyond, and we have noticed that more and more of them are not personal donations, but the results of fundraising efforts: everything from collections to bungee jumps, raffles to DJ nights. A huge thank you to everyone involved in these ventures; we look forward to more stories of successful fundraising campaigns in 2010.

Due to the amazing response to the campaign, Beer for the Boys is now able to provide another free can of beer to service personnel undergoing "decompression" in Cyprus before returning to the UK. The decompression stop gives troops an opportunity to relax and get used to normal life again after several months in Afghanistan, and your generosity means that they will do so with the aid of another 'thank you' beer.

Update - 25 March 2010

Since the last update in January (which can now be found at the bottom of the 'About' page) we have continued to receive donations from members of the public at a rate of around £2000 per month, so thank you to if you've made a contribution. We can always use more though, so please keep spreading the word to family, friends, colleagues, people on the bus, telemarketers and anyone else who you have contact with! We must also thank Grolsch, who made a second donation of over 8000 cans last week, and Greene King, who have donated around 1000 cans of Old Speckled Hen today.

Beer for the Boys is still able to provide a free beer to troops coming home from Afghanistan in several ways. As ever, we offer a can of lager or bitter to passengers on board TriStar aircraft as they fly back from Afghanistan. We have also recently sent a cheque to Cyprus to allow a further free beer to be provided to troops undergoing decompression as they wind down after their 6-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Units from all 3 Services may also apply to Beer for the Boys for funding towards homecoming parties for service personnel once they return to the UK - if this applies to you we'd love to hear from you (using the details on the right)! We have recently received requests from IX (Bomber) Squadron and Number 4 Force Protection Wing RAF Regiment, and will be dispatching cheques shortly.