Historical eventJuly 311970

Rum ration

Black Tot Day: The last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy.

Everything on July 31Original source

In context

When
Friday, July 31 197056 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1970s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1970.

What happened

History Measuring out the tot (diorama aboard HMS  Belfast ) Prior to 1800, a British sailor's ration of alcoholic beverage was originally mild beer (2-3% ABV) with a daily ration of one "wine" gallon, approximately 128 ounces, [ 1 ] although frequently small beer was used with an alcohol content below 1%. [ 2 ] This official allowance continued until after the Napoleonic Wars . When beer was not available (such as when ships were sent into warmer climates),

A rum ration was a daily amount of rum given to sailors aboard naval ships. The Royal Navy, alongside several Commonwealth navies, were best known for the practice. It was abolished in Britain on Black Tot Day in 1970 after concerns that the intake of strong alcohol would lead to unsteady hands when working machinery. The practice ended worldwide in 1990 when New Zealand was the last navy to abolish the practice.

July 31 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1970Rum ration
  2. 2002Hamas
  3. 2006Fidel Castro
  4. 2007The Troubles
  5. 2007Operation Banner
  6. 2008East Coast Jets Flight 81
  7. 20122012 India blackouts
  8. 2012Michael Phelps
  9. 20142014 Kaohsiung gas explosions
  10. 20202020 Alaska mid-air collision
  11. 2020De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

Also in 1970

  • May 11Lubbock, TexasLubbock, Texas, was struck by a tornado that left 26 people dead.
  • September 9Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineA British airliner is hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and flown to Dawson's Field in Jordan.
  • September 17AmmanThe Jordanian army entered Amman as part of operations to oust Palestinian fedayeen from the country in events later known as Black Septe…
  • September 51970 Italian Grand PrixDuring the practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza Circuit, Jochen Rindt was killed and subsequently became motor racing's on…
  • September 5Vietnam WarVietnam War: Operation Jefferson Glenn begins: The United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division i…
  • November 17Vietnam WarVietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai Massacre.
  • November 17Luna programmeLuna programme: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled…
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Everything we record for 1970 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Rum ration”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/rum-ration-1970-july-31, accessed October 25, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Rum ration happen?

July 31 1970 — 56 years ago, on a Friday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

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