The consumption of alcohol on board U.S. Navy vessels was prohibited by
General Order 99, effective 1 July 1914, issued by Secretary of the Navy
Josephus Daniels on 1 June 1914.
The following regulations governed the use of alcohol in the Navy from 1794
to 1935:
1794 On 27 March, the daily ration established by Congress for 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 half pint of
distilled spirits."
1801 Daily liquor ration established on 3 March, remained at "one
half pint of distilled spirits."
1831 General Order issued by Levi Woodbury on 15 June, allowed servicemen
to relinquish their liquor ration in return for a cash payment of 6 cents
per day.
1842 On 29 August, Congress reduced the amount of liquor issued in
the daily ration to one gill (1/4 pint). Also no commissioned officer, midshipman,
or enlisted man below the age of 21 was allowed to draw his liquor ration.
1847 On 3 March, the commutation rate for the liquor ration was reduced
to 3 cents per day.
1848 On 3 August, the commutation rate for the liquor ration was
increased to 4 cents per day.
1851 On 3 March, the commutation of the liquor ration was restricted
to "officers and their attendants" only. Congress also stipulated
that only those persons "attached to, 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1853 On 31 August, Congress repealed the 1851 law restricting the
commutation of the liquor ration to officers and their attendants only.
Privilege was once again opened up to the rank and file.
1862 Spirit ration was discontinued by act of Congress on 14 July.
"Distilled spirituous liquors" were also banned from all naval
vessels "except as medical stores and upon the order and under the
control of the medical officers of such vessels." Those who are entitled
to the spirit ration will receive a commutation payment of 5 cents per day
(in addition to 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 liquors from their ships
except those that serve as medical stores. "Ale, beer, wine, and other
liquors not distilled" were exempted from the provisions of the act
of 14 July 1862.
1864 Welles' General Order 29 of 1 February, stated that beer, ale,
wine, "and other liquors not prohibited by law on board vessels of
the Navy" were to "be regarded as private stores" and were
"not [to] be brought on board without the sanction of the commanding
officer."
1870 The last year in which commutation of the spirit ration was
specifically mentioned in Navy regulations.
1893 Article 1080 of the Navy Regulations permitted wardroom and
steerage officers to form their own wine messes. No officer was 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 sale or issue of "any
malt or alcoholic liquor to . . . enlisted men, 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, issued by Josephus Daniels on 1 June, strictly
prohibited "the use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic
liquors on board 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 President to Increase
Temporarily the Military Establishment of the United States" (also
called the Selective Draft Act), the President was empowered to prohibit
the sale, distribution, or possession of alcoholic beverages at military
posts. It was also declared unlawful to sell alcoholic beverages to men
in uniform. On 6 October, in "An Act to Promote the Efficiency of the
United States Navy," the Selective Draft Act was amended to apply to
the Navy.
1918 Under authority granted the President in Section 12 of the Selective
Draft Act, as amended in "An Act to Promote the Efficiency of the United
States Navy," Secretary Daniels, on 5 March signed General Order 373
establishing dry zones, five miles in width, around U.S. naval installations.
The sale, serving, or transport of liquor in these zones (excepting use
in private homes) was prohibited.
1921 Daniels' General Order 17, issued 5 January, prohibited naval
personnel from purchasing or accepting "intoxicating liquor from bootleggers
within the proscribed zones," or from having "intoxicating liquor
in . . . [their] possession on board any naval vessel, or at any naval station,
or at any other 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 shore establishments
under naval jurisdiction to "officers' quarters, officers' messes,
and officers' clubs." Commandants and commanding officers were to issue
the necessary orders to carry this into effect. Upon special consideration
the Secretary of the Navy could grant 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 End of the Wine
Mess," U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings 84, no.8 (August 1958):
82-91; and Harold D. Langley Social Reform in the United States Navy,
1798-1862. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1967.
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