History Main / MilitaryMoonshiner

* This trope is omnipresent in the [[RussiansWithrustingRockets Russian Army]]. The army is based on conscription with very little for the soldiers to do and with the service conditions being hellish at best. Many conscripts attempt to escape the everyday misery into alcohol (if stationed in North) or into heroin and other drugs (if stationed South). Some of the moonshiners are very skilled and can turn unbelievable stuffs into drinkable alcohol. Though they usually extract alcohol from various technological fluids rather than distill true moonshine.

* ''Fanfic/PeaceForgedInFire'': Morgan has a side business brewing Romulan ale, and Praetor Velal is very impressed at the quality of her product. She also mentions she had a vineyard on Virinat before the attack, and in another scene speaks hopefully of one day going back there. Unusually for the trope, she's a flag officer (her rank of ''khre'riov'' is equivalent to a rear admiral).

* In Creator/TerryPratchett's ''[[Literature/{{Discworld}} Monstrous Regiment]]'', like the quote says: Get a bunch of guys together and they'll make some kind of alcohol, in and smelling of foul containers if need be.

* TruthInTelevision: the novel about American marines in the Pacific in [=WW2=], ''The Thin Red Line'', describes how the first PX stores to be set up in places like Guam and Guadalcanal to provide troops with extra comforts very quickly sold out of two items - cheap cologne aftershave and tinned pineapple juice. On investigation, it was discovered the American soldiers were getting round the "no alcohol while on campaign" rule by ''drinking'' the aftershave for its alcohol content. The only thing that made it palatable and masked the taste of perfume was the pineapple juice. In real life, submarine crews used ''the alcohol-based submarine fuel'' to make [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo_juice "torpedo juice"]]. Cases of poisoning from drinking it were not unknown.

* TruthInTelevision: the novel about American marines in the Pacific in [=WW2=], ''The Thin Red Line'', describes how the first PX stores to be set up in places like Guam and Guadalcanal to provide troops with extra comforts very quickly sold out of two items - cheap cologne aftershave and tinned pineapple juice. On investigation, it was discovered the American soldiers were getting round the "no alcohol while on campaign" rule by ''drinking'' the aftershave for its alcohol content. The only thing that made it palatable and masked the taste of perfume was the pineapple juice. In real life, submarine crews mixed in grain alcohol with (the very dangerous) antifreeze to make [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo_juice "torpedo juice"]]. Going blind from it was not unknown.

* TruthInTelevision: the novel about American marines in the Pacific in [=WW2=], ''The Thin Red Line'', describes how the first PX stores to be set up in places like Guam and Guadalcanal to provide troops with extra comforts very quickly sold out of two items - cheap cologne aftershave and tinned pineapple juice. On investigation, it was discovered the American soldiers were getting round the "no alcohol while on campaign" rule by ''drinking'' the aftershave for its alcohol content. The only thing that made it palatable and masked the taste of perfume was the pineapple juice. In real life, (the very dangerous) antifreeze was used to make [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo_juice "torpedo juice"]]. Going blind from it was not unknown.

* TruthInTelevision: the novel about American marines in the Pacific in [=WW2=], ''The Thin Red Line'', describes how the first PX stores to be set up in places like Guam and Guadalcanal to provide troops with extra comforts very quickly sold out of two items - cheap cologne aftershave and tinned pineapple juice. On investigation, it was discovered the American soldiers were getting round the "no alcohol while on campaign" rule by ''drinking'' the aftershave for its alcohol content. The only thing that made it palatable and masked the taste of perfume was the pineapple juice.

* After the privations of home service and the spartan conditions of the North African desert, British soldiers posted to the Italian war in 1943 soon discovered one thing the Italians made in abundance - wine and spirits. Drunken-ness in this theatre was at epidemic levels, the British soldiers discovering wine had three or four times the alcohol content of the beer they were used to. Comedian SpikeMilligan relates how the British Army in northern Italy and Austria celebrated the German surrender in May 1945: a fountain near Milligan's billet was made to work and literally flowed with wine. Acording to Milligan, the official Order Of The Day for 7th May 1945 was ''Every man is ordered to get drunk!"

* TruthInTelevision: this trope is common in RealLife. Soldier's life is hard and stressful, and getting drunk or high on drugs is considered essential for staying sane. While almost all armed services in the world relate negatively on drunkenness in the service, the CannonFodder at the bottom of the military food chain has its ways to avert the watchful eye of the superiors. Many junior officers turn blind eye on military moonshiners, as they know their troops.

* While commanding the war effort at Alwa Station, Literature/KrisLongknife relaxes several regulations on conduct aboard ship, including consumption of alcohol off-duty. This is met by general approval from the rank-and-file sailors, except usually by one chief petty officer per ship who is suspected to run the still.

* TruthInTelevision: the novel about American marines in the Pacific in WW2, ''The Thin Red Line'', describes how the first PX stores to be set up in places like Guam and Guadalcanal to provide troops with extra comforts very quickly sold out of two items - cheap cologne aftershave and tinned pineapple juice. On investigation, it was discovered the American soldiers were getting round the "no alcohol while on campaign" rule by ''drinking'' the aftershave for its alcohol content. The only thing that made it palatable and masked the taste of perfume was the pineapple juice.

* Trying to run a "dry" army in ''Literature/TheCitizenSeries'' essentially just means that the men avoid being drunk on duty; they'll otherwise make tonk with anything that has cellulose. Hawthorne at one point combines the moonshiners' output (from sea algae in this case, and it tastes exactly as horrible as it sounds) with lubricating oil to make {{Molotov cocktail}}s. He obtains the liquor by telling the senior NCO that either the liquor "miraculously" appears outside his quarters in the middle of the night, or he tears the base apart until he finds where the still is hidden (taking it as a given that there is one somewhere). The requested miracle occurs.

* Towards the end of the first ''Citizen'' book, the heroes have a plan to use {{Molotov Cocktail}}s to slow down an approaching enemy army. The army's XO gets the moonshine he needs to make the cocktails by going to the senior NCO of the unit and saying that either the high-proof liquor he needs miraculously appears outside his quarters by tomorrow morning, or he tears the base apart until he finds a still. The liquor is outside his quarters in the morning.

* Trying to run a "dry" army in ''Literature/TheCitizenSeries'' essentially just means that the men avoid being drunk on duty; they'll otherwise make tonk with anything that has cellulose. Hawthorne at one point combines the moonshiners' output (from sea algae in this case, and it tastes exactly as horrible as it sounds) with lubricating oil to make {{Molotov cocktail}}s.

* Creator/GeorgeMacDonaldFraser, in the {{McAuslan}} stories, relates how his first independent command involved marching eighty Scottish soldiers through miles of Libyan desert to garrison an ex-French Foreign Legion fort and "maintain a presence" there. At first naive enough to think his men aren't likely to get drunk in such an isolated posting, [[AuthorAvatar Lieutenant Dand McNeill]] soon discovers the wily Scots have managed to obtain arak, the extremely potent Arab liquor distilled from dates...

* The crew of the ''HMS Surprise'' is seen heating a still over an open fire pit when they land on the Galapagos Islands in ''Film/MasterAndCommander''. Unlike many other examples, there isn't much reason to believe they are distilling behind the backs of their superiors at all. At the time, the rum ration was hallowed tradition and medical common sense in the Royal Navy and one of the reasons Jack Aubrey chose to return to the Galapagos Islands was to replenish his food stocks. To assume that "food stocks" includes some form of liquor to replace or stretch the supply of regulation rum isn't that big a stretch.

* In ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Starfighters of Adumar]]'', one pilot mentions that he knew their new diplomatic liaison when said liaison was a pilot. He didn't make his own alcohol, but he smuggled it and all manner of other things in.

--->'''Jag''': We're not that lucky. While we've been waiting, I've been determining its effects on local insects. One hundred percent deadly.
--->'''Jaina''': Hush. This is the finest example of the Borleias distiller's art. It's dereliction of duty to be drinking it when another Vong barrage might start at any minute. That means it's going to taste wonderful.
---> She took an experimental sip.
---> To her credit, she did keep her reactions from her face. But through the Force Kyp could feel her physiological reaction as nerve endings in her throat protested the intrusion of the homemade brew.

---->'''Kyp''': Do we have to?
---->'''Jaina''': We have to.
---->'''Jag''': (''chuckles'') It's a drink that makes death-duels with Vong pilots pale in comparison.

* The ''Literature/{{RCN}}'' novels have slash, which is literally distilled from the alcohol-based hydraulic fluid used in ships' power rooms. The RCN attitude toward it seems to be benign neglect: as long as the crew aren't drunk on duty the officers are fine with it and will usually partake themselves.

* Hawkeye and Trapper John (and later BJ) have a still in their tent on ''Series/{{MASH}}''. They say that they're distilling gin (hence the martini glasses), but what actually comes out is little more than high-proof grain alcohol.

-->'''Cecil Terwilliger:''' Now make yourself at home. Perhaps a glass of Bordeaux? I have the '82 Chateau Latour and a rather indifferent Rausan-Segla.
-->'''Sideshow Bob:''' I've been in prison, Cecil. I'll be happy just as long as it doesn't taste like orange drink fermented under a radiator.
-->'''Cecil Terwilliger:''' That would be the Latour, then.

** Pilots in the leadup to the Gulf War would be known to ferment fruit juices or have alcohol smuggled in from the US via emptied mouthwash bottles. What was irksome to them is that personnel housed in neighboring Bahrain only a few miles away were allowed to purchase alcohol

** While most Russian Vehicles run on diesel or gasoline, Russia also uses mixed fuel engines which can run on fuel of most octane levels, including pure alcohol (though in practice it is often mixed with a much less potent trash fuel first). Most mixed fuel engine personel transports have a tank of chemically pure ethanol as "Emergency fuel," though we know what it really used for.

** Colonel Potter once mentions that he had had a still in Guam during WorldWarII that exploded and injured him. He got a Purple Heart for the wounds he suffered when said distillery explosion occurred.

* Bill Mauldin (in ''Up Front'') noted these moonshiners existed during WorldWarII, and that higher-ups winked at them, and even warned them when there might be crack down. Partly because they produced safer booze than the locals did. One of his cartoons also shows an enlisted man busily adjusting his still, as an officer looks on. The officer says, "Hell of a way to waste time. Does it work?"

** Although Blythe (the forger) suspiciously starts to go blind towards the end. This is put down to eye-strain, but you never know...
* Sgt. Sefton runs a still in ''Film/{{Stalag 17}}''.

* The crew of the ''HMS Surprise'' is seen heating a still over an open fire pit when they land on the Galapagos Islands in ''Film/MasterAndCommander''. Unlike many other examples, there is absolutely no indication that the practice is frowned upon, or effort to hide it.
** In fact, there isn't much reason to believe they are distilling behind the backs of their superiors at all. At the time, the rum ration was hallowed tradition and medical common sense in the Royal Navy and one of the reasons Jack Aubrey chose to return to the Galapagos Islands was to replenish his food stocks. To assume that "food stocks" includes some form of liquor to replace or stretch the supply of regulation rum isn't that big a stretch.

* Averted in ''Series/BandOfBrothers''; Easy Company lacks a moonshiner. The biggest drinker among the main characters has to smuggle his booze in the luggage of a known teetotaler, and later resorts to looting when his supply runs dry.
** They were fighting their way through France and into Germany, two countries held in high esteem throughout the world for their wine and beer respectively. Swiping a few cases or a keg from an abandoned or wrecked bar would not be difficult.

** According to one story the Russian army uses alchohol based fuel for its vehicles in an act of [[GenreSavvy Genre Savviness]]. It is assumed that soldiers will [[VodkaDrunkenski always try this]] so one might as well make sure it's not poisonous.
*** Sort of true, while most Russian Vehicles run on diesel or gasoline, Russia also uses mixed fuel engines which can run on fuel of most octane levels, including pure alcohol (though in practice it is often mixed with a much less potent trash fuel first). Most mixed fuel engine personel transports have a tank of chemically pure ethanol as "Emergency fuel," though we know what it really used for.

* [[spoiler:Sir]] [[SergeantRock Horace Harkness]] from ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' did it for the most of his recorded career -- and, probably, still does. While alcohol doesn't seem to be contraband in the Royal Manticore Navy, luxuries like alcohol, tobacco or chocolate would be on sale from the ship's stores at a crewman's own expense. The stock taken aboard is fairly limited, prices are probably high and there may well be heavy restrictions on how much alcohol one can buy at one time. This creates lucrative opportunities for the likes of Harkness.

* Creator/GeorgeMacDonaldFraser, in the {{McAuslan}} stories, relates how his first independent command involved marching eighty Scottish soldiers through miles of Libyan desert to garrison an ex-French Foreign Legion fort and "maintain a presence" there. At first naive enough to think his men aren't likely to get drunk in such an isolated posting, [[AuthorAvatar Lieutenant Dand McNeill]] soon discolvers the wily Scots have managed to obtain arak, the extremely potent Arab liquor distilled from dates...

* Creator/GeorgeMcDonaldFraser, in the {{McAuslan}} stories, relates how his first independent command involved marching eighty Scottish soldiers through miles of Libyan desert to garrison an ex-French Foreign Legion fort and "maintain a presence" there. At first naive enough to think his men aren't likely to get drunk in such an isolated posting, [[AuthorAvatar Lieutenant Dand McNeill]] soon discolvers the wily Scots have managed to obtain arak, the extremely potent Arab liquor distilled from dates...