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##### DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

## Alcohol in the Navy, 1794-1935

The consumption of alcohol on board U.S. Navy vessels was prohibitedby General Order 99, effective 1 July 1914, issued by Secretaryof the Navy Josephus Daniels on 1 June 1914.The following regulations governed the use of alcohol in the Navyfrom 1794 to 1935:**1794** On 27 March, the daily ration established by Congressfor the Navy included "one half-pint of distilled spirits,""or in lieu thereof, one quart of beer."**1797** On 1 July, daily liquor ration set at "one halfpint of distilled spirits."**1801** Daily liquor ration established on 3 March, remainedat "one half pint of distilled spirits."**1831** General Order issued by Levi Woodbury on 15 June,allowed servicemen to relinquish their liquor ration in returnfor a cash payment of 6 cents per day.**1842** On 29 August, Congress reduced the amount of liquorissued in the daily ration to one gill (1/4 pint). Also no commissionedofficer, midshipman, or enlisted man below the age of 21 was allowedto draw his liquor ration.**1847** On 3 March, the commutation rate for the liquor rationwas reduced to 3 cents per day.**1848** On 3 August, the commutation rate for the liquor rationwas increased to 4 cents per day.**1851** On 3 March, the commutation of the liquor ration wasrestricted to "officers and their attendants" only.Congress also stipulated that only those persons "attachedto, and doing duty on board a sea-going or receiving vessel,"or who were "attached to the ordinary of the navy yards"were eligible to draw rations.**1853** On 31 August, Congress repealed the 1851 law restrictingthe commutation of the liquor ration to officers and their attendantsonly. Privilege was once again opened up to the rank and file.**1862** Spirit ration was discontinued by act of Congresson 14 July. "Distilled spirituous liquors" were alsobanned from all naval vessels "except as medical stores andupon the order and under the control of the medical officers ofsuch vessels." Those who are entitled to the spirit rationwill receive a commutation payment of 5 cents per day (in additionto their regular pay) beginning 1 September.**1862** General Order issued by Gideon Welles on 16 September,required captains of naval vessels to remove all distilled liquorsfrom their ships except those that serve as medical stores. "Ale,beer, wine, and other liquors not distilled" were exemptedfrom the provisions of the act of 14 July 1862.**1864** Welles' General Order 29 of 1 February, stated thatbeer, ale, wine, "and other liquors not prohibited by lawon board vessels of the Navy" were to "be regarded asprivate stores" and were "not [to] be brought on boardwithout the sanction of the commanding officer."**1870** The last year in which commutation of the spirit rationwas specifically mentioned in Navy regulations.**1893** Article 1080 of the Navy Regulations permitted wardroomand steerage officers to form their own wine messes. No officerwas required to be a member of a wine mess.**1899** General Order 508, issued by John D. Long on 3 February,directed commanding officers and commandants to forbid the saleor issue of "any malt or alcoholic liquor to . . . enlistedmen, either on board ship, or within the limits of navy yards,naval stations, or marine barracks, except in the medical department."**1914**General Order 99, issuedby Josephus Daniels on 1 June, strictly prohibited "the useor introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors onboard any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station,"to take effect on 1 July 1914, thus putting an end to the officers'wine mess.**1917** On 18 May, in "An Act to Authorize the Presidentto Increase Temporarily the Military Establishment of the UnitedStates" (also called the Selective Draft Act), the Presidentwas empowered to prohibit the sale, distribution, or possessionof alcoholic beverages at military posts. It was also declaredunlawful to sell alcoholic beverages to men in uniform. On 6 October,in "An Act to Promote the Efficiency of the United StatesNavy," the Selective Draft Act was amended to apply to theNavy.**1918** Under authority granted the President in Section 12of the Selective Draft Act, as amended in "An Act to Promotethe Efficiency of the United States Navy," Secretary Daniels,on 5 March signed General Order 373 establishing dry zones, fivemiles in width, around U.S. naval installations. The sale, serving,or transport of liquor in these zones (excepting use in privatehomes) was prohibited.**1921** Daniels' General Order 17, issued 5 January, prohibitednaval personnel from purchasing or accepting "intoxicatingliquor from bootleggers within the proscribed zones," orfrom having "intoxicating liquor in . . . [their] possessionon board any naval vessel, or at any naval station, or at anyother place under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Navy Department."**1934** Acting Secretary H. L. Roosevelt's General Order 244,dated 21 March, restricted the use of alcoholic beverages at shoreestablishments under naval jurisdiction to "officers' quarters,officers' messes, and officers' clubs." Commandants and commandingofficers were to issue the necessary orders to carry this intoeffect. Upon special consideration the Secretary of the Navy couldgrant special exceptions to this general order.**1935** General Order 59, issued by Claude Swanson on 13 May,reiterated provisions of General Order 244.For additional information, see Hanson W. Baldwin "The Endof the Wine Mess," U.S. Naval Institute *Proceedings*84, no.8 (August 1958): 82-91; and Harold D. Langley *SocialReform in the United States Navy, 1798-1862*. Urbana: Universityof Illinois Press, 1967.*26 March 96*