By Euronews
Published on
The UK navy is restricting alcohol consumption at sea, the defence ministry said Thursday, marking another departure from centuries of naval drinking culture.
Under new rules unveiled this week, Royal Navy personnel should consume no more than three units of alcohol per day or 14 units per week when at sea regardless of rank, a defence source said.
Each vessel will be required to go teetotal at least two days per week. Zero and low-alcohol products will be made available to buy to promote responsible drinking habits, officials said.
This replaces previous guidelines which allowed sailors two cans of beer per day, equivalent to over three units depending on the strength of beer.
The changes align with the Royal Navy’s goal of improving warfighting readiness when personnel are at sea and with guidelines issued to Britain’s general population, officials said.
“The updated policy aligns with advice from the UK chief medical officer, ensuring that our people remain fit for naval operations and comparable with modern military and civilian maritime standards,” a Royal Navy spokesperson said.
“It also prioritises the health of our people, which is paramount, and ensures they are ready to respond to the dynamic demands of naval operations, while also continuing to enjoy downtime.”
The new restrictions will not apply when sailors are not aboard ships, for example at on-shore bases, the defence source said.
A traditional daily ration, or “tot”, of rum was issued to Royal Navy personnel for about three centuries, until the practice ended in July 1970.
Additional sources • AFP