Why sailors drink

At that time, it was necessary for armed naval vessels to sail with the planters to defend them from pirates and the navies of their European enemies. The crews generally felt little more than contempt and resentment toward the planters whom they were sent to protect. From the sailors' point of view, shepherding planters and their merchant ships limited their chances of actually capturing a pirate or enemy prize and sharing in the profits. Deadly tropical diseases were rampant in the Caribbean, and without the hope of getting rich if they survived, sailors had little to look forward to beyond their daily allowance of drink.

Not until sugar-sweetened delights made their debut in France did the situation improve in the fo'c'sle. As demand for sugar exploded, sugar-cane plantations spread across the Caribbean islands like wildfire. In a spin-off from the sugar-refining process, skimmings and molasses were distilled to make a raw white spirit called kill devil.

England forbade her colonies to export cane spirits, and planters found themselves with more alcohol than they could sell in the local market. Too many rum barrels stored around a plantation were an open invitation for trouble from pirates and other scoundrels, so plantation managers were eager to sell their rum to Royal Navy pursers, a marriage made in heaven.

The availability of Caribbean spirits meant that the sailor's lot in life was enhanced, and on the other side of the aisle, the increased presence of armed ships was a deterrent to pirates. A mutually beneficial dependence evolved between the two unlikely partners. By , a pint of rum had been unofficially adopted as part of the sailor's daily ration.

Competition for rum sales and for the security that armed ships brought with them was fierce among the planters. Even the island governors supported selling rum to the navy, a move they hoped would help keep the pirates at bay. Then in , to appease the governors and guarantee the supply of spirits for their sailors, the Royal Navy officially adopted a mixture of rum from the English Caribbean islands as part of the crew's daily allotment.

Ships were dispatched to collect and distribute this special blend that would be carried on all Royal Navy ships around the world. Sailors guzzled the liquor to deal with the tedium of the sea. The rum was often poor quality, so sailors had to get creative.

With a lack of time, they opted to spice it. We have sailors to thank for the invention of spiced rum. It kept them alive, as vitamin C from lime juice prevented scurvy.

Soon the idea spread beyond the boat. In the American colonies, a more elaborate take on punch became a seaside staple. Hundreds of years later, punch-like concoctions are inextricably tied to coastal culture. The Tiki movement of the s may have borrowed its aesthetic from Polynesia, but the drinks themselves owe a lot to Caribbean plantations and the British Navy. Another nautical necessity turned cocktail came after punch made its mark.

But trading in India exposed sailors to malaria. ET India Inc. ET Engage. ET Secure IT. Panache Tech and Gadgets. Panache People City Life. ET Magazine. Rate Story. Font Size Abc Small. Abc Medium. Abc Large. The end of a Royal Navy tradition, as the daily ration of rum was abolished due to safety concerns, on July 31, The crew wore black armbands to mourn the passing of the tradition. They looked sombre — part formal, part grieving. They were not alone.

Anchored near the International Dateline, HMS Fife was the last among the many British ships that lowered their oars for a moment to say goodbye to a tradition they had been following for around years.