AN ALCOHOL-free Christmas lunch has been served up to around 800 new recruits at Catterick Garrison’s Infantry Training Centre.

The Christmas lunch, which sees officers and senior non-commissioned officers waiting on new recruits for a much-deserved break, is a long-standing tradition but this year it had an additional message of alcohol awareness.

Lieutenant Colonel Tony Gawthorpe, Commanding Officer of 1st Infantry Training Battalion, said: “The message we have been trying to get across for quite a while now is one of healthy living.

“Our new recruits are all men aged between 18 and 32 so obviously they like to go out and have a good time, but we want to educate them on eating well, exercise, and not to drink to excess.

“I have seen first-hand the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, but the Army has got really good about spotting the signs and getting help for people.

“Drinking is not banned, but we want to give the message that it shouldn’t be what their social lives are built around.”

Lt Col Gawthorpe said in the recruits’ cookhouse there were posters giving information on alcohol and food so they could make healthy decisions about what to eat and drink.

But he added that the recruits would not have had alcohol at lunchtime anyway because they were straight back into training afterwards.

“They had four courses of soup, full turkey dinner, Christmas pudding and mince pies – all washed down with fizzy pop,” he added.

“The canteen was very noisy and I think they had a good time. They are now looking forward to a well-deserved Christmas break.”