Rum ration

A sailor on board HMS York measures out tots of rum for the ship's company, in preparation for the Royal Navy tradition "Splice the Mainbrace"
Royal Marines and bluejackets being served their rum rations on board HMS Royal Oak, 1916

A rum ration (also called the tot) was a daily amount of rum given to sailors aboard naval ships. The Royal Navy, alongside several Commonwealth navies, were best known for the practice. It was abolished in Britain on Black Tot Day in 1970 after concerns that the intake of strong alcohol would lead to unsteady hands when working machinery. The practice ended worldwide in 1990 when New Zealand was the last navy to abolish the practice.

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