The ministry of defence may relax its zero-tolerance policy for soft drug use by soldiers and shift the focus to awareness, a spokesman has told current affairs programme Nieuwsuur.

Hard drug use by army personnel, during or outside working hours, is a sacking offence while soldiers who use soft drugs in their time off currently get a warning and are dismissed if caught again. Being caught using soft drugs on duty also results in instant dismissal.

However, the army is now contemplating relaxing its policy because “opinions about drug use are shifting,” a spokesman told Nieuwsuur. “We are not letting go of our policy completely but we are going to do more about raising awareness. Those who transgress in the future will be warned, and not sacked immediately,” he said.

Since 2021, commanders have used random testing to gauge drug use among soldiers, resulting in 50 soldiers leaving the service each year.

Military union official John van der Hulst is opposed to the proposed change. “Some soldiers are on a 48-hour notice to move. They have to be able to get somewhere within 48 hours and they cannot be under the influence,” he said.

He says the changing attitude is probably due to the army’s efforts to recruit young people, but still feels the zero-tolerance policy should stand. “Mistakes due to drug use during high-risk activities such as driving, diving, shooting and parachuting, could cost lives,” he said.

According to former soldier Pepijn, who was sacked when caught smoking marijuana following an army exercise, it is unfair to punish soldiers who smoke a joint and not do the same to a soldier who drinks 20 beers.

“That person won’t function well the next day but someone who takes five drags from a joint will be perfectly fine to do the job,” he told the programme.