Rum Issue

[rumratjohn]

What age did a Bitish naval rate had to be to draw his tot of rum

[Ethel]

20 or above, apparently

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hmsmanxman/photos/r um_issue/up_spirits.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splice_the_mainbr ace

[sailorgeorge]

Yes, from the age of twenty.I was In the Royal Navy when the issue was stopped on 31 July 1970.I was 28 days short of my twentieth birthday and so could not officially draw my tot. You could sign up as " G "...grog ,
" T " ...teetotal (for which you recieved the cash equivalent of the tot...Three old pence in 1966) or you were UA...under age and not legally entitled.At 18 you could buy two cans of beer per day which were opened by the Naffi manager so that you couldn't store them ! Incidentally the ratings rum was one sixth of a gill diluted with three parts of warter.Senior rates was neat.Officers did not get an issue but had beer , wine and spirits avaiable for purchase.