No extra drunken sailors? Navy to limit alcohol in well being kick on ships | EUROtoday

The Royal Navy has ordered sailors to abstain from alcohol for a minimum of two days every week in a latest crackdown on boozing aimed to satisfy the federal government’s well being targets.

Based on recommendation from navy docs, crews shall be restricted to 14 models of alcohol per week, the equal of round six pints of beer, and ships shall be dry on sure days.

Official paperwork titled Alcohol Policy Onboard Ships, seen by the Daily Mailpresent that the extent of alcohol consumption aboard ships “remains a significant concern” to service chiefs.

It revealed that 48 per cent of Navy crew are believed to eat alcohol to extra, down from 55 per cent in 2023.

The report mentioned: “These figures highlight the critical need for stricter alcohol policies to safeguard personnel, enhance operational performance and mitigate risks to operational capacity.”

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The transfer has prompted issues amongst sailors that the Navy will ultimately comply with the US in banning alcohol from ships completely.

Under the brand new guidelines, women and men won’t be allowed greater than three models a day, with sailors informed to fill in a type on the bar itemizing what drinks that they had consumed.

Ships can even implement a minimum of two alcohol free days every week and bars have been inspired to inventory non-alcoholic beers to help “healthier lifestyle choices” in new orders that change the “two-can rule” noticed throughout the British Army.

The retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry mentioned that the principles might have an effect on ethical and mentioned he had by no means had any points in his profession with sailors ingesting. “You have to trust your sailors and your leaders aboard ships to set the rules,” he mentioned. “You can screw down a system too much. Sailors take great risks and make big sacrifices.”

The Royal Navy has a long-standing historical past with alcohol consumption, provided that beer was a greater various to acquiring clear ingesting water till the seventeenth century.

After the seize of Jamaica from Spain in 1655, rum turned the drink of alternative, provided that it may very well be transported simply and lasted even longer.

Rum combined with lemon or lime juice was additionally used to keep at bay scurvy, a illness which broadly affected sailors, and a every day ration often known as the ‘tot’ was served as a half pint.

The follow was ended on 31 July 1970 over issues it was hindering sailors’ skill to function complicated weapons programs, in a transfer that was often known as Black Tot Day.

The Independent has contacted the Royal Navy for remark. A navy spokesperson informed the Mail: “The updated policy aligns with advice, ensuring our people remain fit for naval operations.

“It also prioritises the health of our people and ensures they are ready to respond to the dynamic demands of naval operations.”