Drinking on board

[john middleton]

I watch any programmes on T.V. that feature the M.N.
and I was surprised that alcohol is now forbidden for
the crews of vessels, is this so?, I go back a long time
(I am now 90) but in my day the 'pig' was the haven during
a day work, I was a waiter I dont think I could have run 2 sittings
of 8 without a good lining or Wexham lager (8d a pint 1950's)
hard work but we were all happy, thans to the pig.

[Doc Vernon]

Not sure on Todays rules as regards Drinking on Board for the Crew.
However like you mi too always had one or two even during the working hours. And myself plus many other Stewards aboard the various UCL Ships ran 2 sittings of at times 14, so that was as said Blood Money!

After working hrs, we all used the good old Pig and Whistle for a rest and some relaxation, with some good old Bitter and a game of Dominoes or Cards ! Many a night going to the Cabin, two sheets under the Weather! LOL

But the Next Morning Oh boy! A sore head , but always managed to rise and shine, ready for another Blood Run. LOL

What happy and carefree times we had, so sad that its all past and gone now !
Me well not quite 90, but getting there at 85. Cheers

[James Curry]

Exon Valdez incident was the Last nail in the coffin and stricter D&A policies were enforced. Low alcohol % beer was introduced, certainly in the tanker industry. BP went for a maxium 4 beers a day then down to 2% Alcohol. This led to problems as young lads doing what young lads should be allowed to and go up the road for a night out. Spot Breathalyser checks carried out failure lead to instant dismissal in many cases.

[j.sabourn]

#1 it was just about when I retired in 2002 John. If ever there was an example for “ the sublime to the ridiculous” that was it. I worked for one company won’t say its name but received a letter “ for your eyes only “ asking me to report unofficially on anyone I thought was drinking. I posted the letter on the ships notice board to show everyone big brother was watching them , I had no intention of reporting anyone for over drinking apart from the person him or herself. And if that failed would take stricter measures , then report to the company if they were so interested. This included all crew members from the highest to the lowest. Cheers JS
Working for the RN in the very early eighties they had a different attitude to alcohol. Although the rum ration had ceased to exist the cpos still had beer available in their messes . If any alcoholism reared its ugly head they had their own drying out farms , their attitude was as a serving seaman they learned to drink through the good auspices of HM navy they and were responsible . They were allowed two trips to the farm as they called it, on the third one received their discharge from the RN with the loss of all pension rights, so they too also had their wardrobe drinkers. Cheers JS.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi John
As far as I can recall I can't remember ever being able to buy beer on any ship, mind you the wags we got made it almost impossible to pay for anyway.
Des

[j.sabourn]

They were dry ships when I first went to sea Des, the only alcohol on board was put there by the company for entertainment in port of customs and immigration officers usually. Then it became more obtainable by masters and company bonds, probably in the minds of the shipowners it might keep some on board in port ha ha. ! Then in the late 60s and early 70s bars on board again someone’s thinking it would stop cabin drinking , then sometime in the eighties nowt officially. Unofficially I for one carried a bond at times which included alcohol and nothing said.
Venezuela a special bond used to be put on ships especially for the purpose of expediting the swiftness of clearing the ship inwards every port officer expected 2 bottles of spirits and 200 at least cigarettes or they made it hard on those who hadn’t declared certain items on the crew manifest such as how many razor blades they had, and threw fines around like confetti. Don’t think all those immigration and customs officers in their brass bound uniforms lived up to their purpose 100% . There are rogues everywhere and in all vocations . Cheers JS
The first bar I saw was on the Beechwood an ore carrier and the old man suggested to me as I was the mate there to knock the bulkhead down between the two apprentices cabins as we didn’t carry any, whether he had permission from the company don’t know as never asked an redecorate which I and a few others did. Tennents put the actual bar and fittings in and supplied whatever amount of keg beer we required every trip. Usually worked out to about 200 kegs a month , 40 pints to the keg =8000 pints.it was a show piece and we charged 10p a pint it was also used in port for any officials so they had to buy it instead of stealing it .,The telephonists from one of the regular Glasgow exchanges were regular visitors on party nights plus any wives on board of course, we even had would be skivel bands and such likes.The Beechwood was the old Aldersgate if anyone wants to know., Cheers JS
Captain Dunbavin was master there and one of his daughters was on this site must be almost two years ago wanting to know if anyone knew him and forgot to mention it to her so if she still looks in she will now know what we got up to.. unfortuanetley she told me at the time that her father had died a lot of years ago in a Chinese hospital at a fairly young age, don’t think he had any family around and died a lonely death. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

All I know is that the 'Pig' served up a pint but often we though with a little 'Added' in it, water that is. Cans were available also.
On the cargo and tankers i sailed on just two cans per man per day, warm ones at that issued each night by the chief steward.


Not sure about commercial shipping now but on cruise ships from what the crew tell me they have their own bar.
They also have more than one galley for the crews as they have to serve so many different foods to satisfy the various cultures.

[James Curry]

Only ships that had no bars onboard were Saudi Flagged vessels. Several ships had a serving hatch outside the smoke room usually manned by the 2nd Steward. Again the only ship I sailed on that had an oldmans bond was a feeder box boat the Oahu. You could have what you wanted. Also the only ship I sailed on that was fully British crewed. We called the oldman the Silver fox, nice guy. He loved the bond and told me he made enough from the sale of ciggies and booze to buy a new car every year if he wanted and also pay for family summer holidays abroad.
My wifes uncle was Chief steward on several P&O liners. His wife was a stewardess that's how they met. As they sailed together, her under her maiden name. Company rules at that time would not have permitted them to sail on the same ships. They never had there own home so stayed with family. The last trip they did he told me he made enough money to buy a lovely 3 bed flat cash!!!

[j.sabourn]

#6 for Skivel read Skiffle must be getting forgetful in old age. JS

[Johnny Kieran]

Only ever went on two ships with the pig and whistle. they were cargo passenger boats and were always full of gay stewards waiting for us deckies to chance getting a pint without any hassle. Never went in on our own.
The rest were cargo boats with just an issue from the cold store of a couple of cans.