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Alcohol has been a fact of life since man first learned to make fermented beverages. It has also been one of our foodstuffs that has been subject to regulations of one sort or another for millenia - rules enacted to protect people and to enrich government through taxes and control.
Since its inception, the U.S. Navy has recognized the issues of alcohol consumption and their service men and since 1794, they have enacted a variety of regulations concerning the use of alcohol while on active service. This article covers all the major regulations that were put in place through the centuries.
1794 - On March 27, the Congress established a daily food ration for the Navy. Part of that official ration was one half pint of distilled spirits or one quart of beer.
1797 - The daily ration of alcohol was changed to be just one half pint of distilled spirits. This was enacted on July 1.
1801 - On March 3, the regulation giving the ration of one half pint of distilled spirits was reestablished.
1831 - A General Order was issued by Levi Woodbury on June 15 to allow servicemen to relinquish their liquor ration in exchange for a cash payment of six cents per day.
1842 - On August 29, Congress reduced the amount of liquor in the daily ration to one gill (1/4 pint.) They also established that no commissioned officer, midshipman or enlisted man below age 21 would be allowed to draw his liquor ration.
1847 - The commutation rate for the liquor ration was cut to three center per day on March 3.
1848 - The commutation rate for the liquor ration was raised to four cents per day on August 3.
1851 - On March 3, the commutation of the liquor ration was restricted to just the officers and their attendants. Congress also stipulated that the only people allowed a liquor ration were those attached to navy yards or to sea -going vessels.
1853 - On August 31, Congress repealed the 1851 ruling and the liquor ration was again given to all members of the Navy.
1862 - On July 14, the liquor ration was discontinued. Liquor was also banned from all Naval vessels except as medical stores to be dispensed only by medical personnel. Ale, beer and wine were not included in this ban.
1864 - General Order 29 written on February 1 stated that beer, ale and wine were to be regarded as private stores on Naval vessels and not to be brought on board without the permission of the commanding offer.
1870 - The commutation of the spirit ration for cash was dropped from the Navy regulations.
1893 - Article 1080 of the Navy Regulations allowed wardroom and steerage officers to form their own wine messes. This was a voluntary action and did not require mandatory membership.
1899 - General Order 508 was issued on February 3rd forbidding the sale or issue of all alcoholic liquor on Naval properties except by the medical department.
1914 - General Oder 99 issued on June 1 prohibited the use of alcohol for drinking purposes on any Naval property. This regulation applied to all Naval personnel - both officers and enlisted men.
1917 - The sale of alcohol to Naval men in uniform was prohibited by the Selective Draft Act. This act was applied to the Navy on October 6.
1918 - Dry zones extending five miles around all Naval installations was established on March 5. No alcohol could be sold, served or transported within five miles of a Naval base. The regulation did not affect consumption of alcohol in private homes.
1921 - On January 5, General Order 17 was written which prohibited Naval personnel from buying bootleg liquor in the dry zones or having liquor on their person within a Naval property.
1934 - Alcohol restrictions were loosened for officers with General Order 244 on March 21. This order allowed alcohol in officer's quarters, officer's messes and officer's clubs on shore.
As you can see from this historic list, the use of alcohol in the Navy has varied widely over its many decades - following the mores of the government. The modern Navy has moderate rules on alcohol consumption based on ensuring that the force stays combat ready.
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