Why did sailors get a tot of rum?

Sailors were given a daily tot of rum from 1655 until the ration was abolished, as recently as 1970. Originally it was given to sailors neat when the beer ran out (water was not safe to drink as it became rancid very quickly at sea and it was often taken from polluted rivers, such as the Thames).

Do sailors still get a tot of rum?

The rum ration (also called the tot) was a daily amount of rum given to sailors on Royal Navy ships. It was abolished in 1970 after concerns that the intake of strong alcohol would lead to unsteady hands when working machinery.

Why did the Navy have rum?

In 1740, Admiral Edward Vernon introduced a concoction of watered-down rum mixed with sugar and lime juice. This "grog" was supposed to reduce drunkenness, but many sailors saved their rations for drinking sprees.

How much rum did British sailors get?

In the 18th century, each sailor was allotted half an Imperial pint of rum a day, which translates to about ten ounces.

Why did sailors drink so much alcohol?

– Grog is a concoction of rum, water and citrus juice that was originally drunk by British sailors and adopted by the U.S. Navy as a way to make stagnant water more palatable and to fight scurvy. Someone who is dazed or sleepy might feel as if they have had too much grog, making them “groggy.”

31st July 1970: Black Tot Day ends the Royal Navy's daily rum ration

Does rum fight scurvy?

A well-known mariner's beverage, grog, is made up of sugar water, lime juice, and rum. It is used by pirates to prevent scurvy.

What was rum used for?

Elsewhere, rum is usually consumed in mixed drinks, with light rums preferred for such cocktails as the daiquiri and dark rums used in such tall drinks as the rum Collins. Rum is frequently used as a flavouring in dessert sauces and other dishes. It is also used to flavour tobacco.

Who stopped the rum ration?

On 17 December 1969 the Admiralty, concerned that a lunchtime slug of rum would hinder sailors' ability to operate increasingly complex weapons systems and navigational tools, decided to stop the rum ration altogether. Six months later, on 31 July 1970, the Royal Navy's official love affair with rum ended.

Why do Royal Marines drink port?

If a crew hears this order, they're issued with an alcoholic drink. It came to symbolise the celebration that followed the successful completion of one of the most difficult repairs on a sailing ship.

Why did soldiers drink rum in ww1?

Rum (indeed alcohol generally) served three main purposes in the war: firstly as a morale booster; secondly as what is known as a “combat motivator” and, thirdly, very often as a coping mechanism and all three merged quite seamlessly into the other, their purposes over-lapping, as time progressed.

When did the navy stop the tot of rum?

On 20th July, 1971, after 239 years of tradition, a vote was put to Parliament to end the issuing of rum to the fleet.

Why does rum prevent scurvy?

In 1740, Admiral Edward Vernon introduced a mixture of one part rum to four parts water, flavoured with lemon juice and brown sugar. The lemon would have provided some much-needed vitamin C to stave off scurvy.

What does Pusser mean in the navy?

The term pusser was Royal Navy slang for the purser aboard ship. It was the purser that was responsible for the rum store on the ship and for supervising doling out the daily rum tot.

What did sailors drink to prevent scurvy?

British 'Limeys' and the Cure for Scurvy

The British began storing citrus fruits on board all of its ships. The British Navy gave its sailors limes or lemon juice rations to ward off scurvy – earning them the nickname of "Limeys" among the American sailors who didn't know about or believe in the preventative treatment.

Why did sailors drink grog?

The sailors, to put it lightly, were not pleased. They needed to throw liquor down their throats because it made it a lot more tolerable to deal with awful living conditions and endless scrubbing of the poop deck. So, in their spite, they started to call the drink “grog,” after Old Grog himself.

Why do the Navy sit during the loyal toast?

By tradition, these toasts are proposed immediately after the loyal toast, on the relevant day of the week. The Navy makes the loyal toast seated. This was a special dispensation granted by William IV, who had narrowly missed cracking his head several times on low deckheads when serving in the Royal Navy.

Why is the RN called the Andrew?

Some say, including the Admiralty Manual of Seamanship, the nickname 'Andrew' derives from a man called Andrew Miller, a zealous officer of the Impress Service (a Royal Navy recruitment service) during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

Why is port served to the left?

One theory is that the custom arose from the need to keep one's sword arm free in case of trouble. It is sometimes said to have originated in the Royal Navy where the rule was 'Port to port', meaning that the decanter (most likely a ship's decanter) should be passed to the left.

How big was a navy rum ration?

Rum Rations In The Royal Navy

For centuries, sailors had gathered together between 1100hrs and 1200hrs for 'Up Spirits' – the serving of their allocated tot of rum. It was roughly an eighth of a pint.

How much grog did sailors drink?

Each sailor was provided a ration of one gallon a day of combined alcohol and water.

Can navy sailors drink on ships?

U.S. Navy sailors cannot drink beer on ships unless they have been at sea for 45 continuous days without a port call. The captain may then request permission from the fleet commander to have a "beer day" at which each sailor is allowed two cans of beer. However, exceptions have been made.

Did slaves invent rum?

Slaves also seined the boiling matter to collect the molasses—the syrupy byproduct from making sugar." Enslaved people may have even developed the rum-making process: "Molasses could be sold and used as a sweetener too, but the fermented molasses was enjoyed by the slaves and by poor whites.

Is rum healthy to drink?

Healthy heart

Yes, you've read it right! Rum consumption can give you a healthy and strong heart. Also, it decreases cholesterol levels in the body. It is also a good drink for peripheral artery disease prevention and is a blood thinner, which can help combat artery blockages, prevent heart attacks and heart disease.

What country drinks the most rum?

Despite not being exactly world-famous for its rum, India is the biggest consumer of rum in the world, both in terms of rum drunk per capita and in terms of most rum drunk each year. Indian rums are molasses distilled, and dark.

Why did pirates drink so much rum?

Pirates drank it to prevent diseases such as scurvy, the flu, and to eliminate stress. Rum was inexpensive and it quickly became popular among sailors and in the pirate community. In fact, the seafaring explorers and conquerors soon began consuming it in industrial quantities.