32 CFR § 147.9 - Guideline G—Alcohol consumption.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t32/s147.9"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "32 CFR § 147.9 - Guideline G—Alcohol consumption."
title_number: 32
title_name: "National Defense"
section_number: "147.9"
section_name: "Guideline G—Alcohol consumption."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "PERSONNEL, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN"
part_number: "147"
part_name: "ADJUDICATIVE GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "E.O. 12968 (60 FR 40245, 3 CFR 1995 Comp., p 391)."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 4573, Jan. 30, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "147"
---


# 147.9 Guideline G—Alcohol consumption.

(a) *The concern.* Excessive alcohol consumption often leads to the exercise of questionable judgment, unreliability, failure to control impulses, and increases the risk of unauthorized disclosure of classified information due to carelessness.

(b) *Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include:* (1) Alcohol-related incidents away from work, such as driving while under the influence, fighting, child or spouse abuse, or other criminal incidents related to alcohol use;

(2) Alcohol-related incidents at work, such as reporting for work or duty in an intoxicated or impaired condition, or drinking on the job;

(3) Diagnosis by a credentialed medical professional (e.g., physician, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist) of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence;

(4) Evaluation of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence by a licensed clinical social worker who is a staff member of a recognized alcohol treatment program;

(5) Habitual or binge consumption of alcohol to the point of impaired judgment;

(6) Consumption of alcohol, subsequent to a diagnosis of alcoholism by a credentialed medical professional and following completion of an alcohol rehabilitation program.

(c) *Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include:* (1) The alcohol related incidents do not indicate a pattern;

(2) The problem occurred a number of years ago and there is no indication of a recent problem;

(3) Positive changes in behavior supportive of sobriety;

(4) Following diagnosis of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence, the individual has successfully completed impatient or outpatient rehabilitation along with aftercare requirements, participates frequently in meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar organization, has abstained from alcohol for a period of at least 12 months, and received a favorable prognosis by a credentialed medical professional or a licensed clinical social worker who is a staff member of a recognized alcohol treatment program.