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The British Royal Navy gave sailors a daily rum ration to prevent scurvy, but it was actually the lime juice that came with it that helped. The practice ended in 1970 due to safety concerns and Admiral Vernon had previously ordered the rum to be mixed with water.
The British Royal Navy is said to have instituted the practice of handing out a daily ration of rum as a way to fend off scurvy, a common ailment on ships because sailors lacked access to fresh produce and often lacked vitamin C. However, it was It’s not the rum that helped, but the lime juice that came with the sailor’s daily “tot,” served around noon every day for more than two centuries. The daily rum ration finally ended on 31 July 1970, when the well-known call of the “high spirits” was heard during the last call for the Royal Navy.
All hands on deck:
One reason for ending the rum ration was that the Admiralty Board was concerned for the safety of its sailors, especially due to the introduction of technologically advanced machinery and weapons.
In 1740, concerned about the drunkenness of sailors who were given half a pint of rum a day, Admiral Edward Vernon declared that rum should be mixed with water.
In later years, sailors would check that their rum hadn’t been watered down. They would pour some on the gunpowder and light it, a practice which is believed to have led to the use of the term “proof” to assess the contents of spirits.
