What shall we do with the drunken sailor? Accounting and controls for alcohol in the Royal Navy in the time of Nelson
KAREN MCBRIDE & TONY HINES
In: Accounting for Alcohol: An Accounting History of Brewing, Distilling and Viniculture. Edited By Martin Quinn, Joćo Oliveira
Alcohol had been issued to seafarers as part of their staple diet from as early as 1361 ( Hewitt, 1966 ). The reasons for this are diverse. Initially, it was a question of beer being easier than water to keep potable and to store while at sea. Later it was believed that it assisted in the prevention of scurvy ( Stubbs, 2003 ). Even after this was found not to be the case, beer continued to be issued for health reasons ( Henderson Smith, 1918 ). In 1796 lemon juice was finally issued to all naval ships in foreign service, for health and for the prevention of scurvy, and in 1799 this was extended to ships serving in home waters ( Baron, 2009 ), but the beer allowance remained, even though beer was bulky to carry and required much room to store.
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