Alcohol Sales at Bars at US Antarctic Base to End Following Sexual Harassment Reports

The modifications follow an investigation by the Associated Press exposing a history of sexual assault and harassment at McMurdo Station.

Come Sunday, the bars on the major American outpost in Antarctica won't be serving alcoholic beverages, potentially isolating the researchers there in the arid, icy environment.

Base employees are currently permitted to purchase up to 18 beers, three bottles of wine, or a 25-ounce bottle of spirits every week.

The two main bars at McMurdo, which have historically been important gathering places for employees to socialise at the far-flung outpost,

will now sell alcohol-free drinks, while staff members are still permitted to bring their own booze to each.

In addition, a third pub that currently offers alcohol will stop serving alcohol altogether while continuing to be open constantly.

Alcohol was a factor in some of the AP's case studies.

The NSF, however, told the AP that the alcohol-related measures had more to do with base morale and welfare than they did with preventing sexual harassment or assault.

The NSF also disclosed that it is implementing a number of additional fresh initiatives focused at preventing sexual harassment and assault at the distant location, where the vast majority, or 70%, of the staff members are men.

These fresh programmes include updated instruction, a survey to track patterns and gather information, and professional visits to the ice.