Beer Day is the term applied to an event where a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
or
Military Sealift Command
Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US m ...
vessel's personnel are issued, and authorized to consume, beer.
Historical context
Beginning in 1794 the U.S. Congress authorized a daily alcohol ration for sailors. Over time the regulations of alcohol consumption aboard Navy vessels changed in various forms until finally on June 1, 1914
Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels (May 18, 1862 – January 15, 1948) was an American newspaper editor and publisher from the 1880s until his death, who controlled Raleigh's ''News & Observer'', at the time North Carolina's largest newspaper, for decades. A D ...
issued General Order 99, which ended all alcohol consumption.
Authorization
When a vessel has been at sea for 45 continuous days and has more than 5 days left before coming into port, then a ship captain may request permission from the Numbered Fleet Commander to conduct a beer day. This authorization is not automatic and is subject to operational commitments, local
threat assessment
Threat assessment is the practice of determining the credibility and seriousness of a potential threat, as well as the probability that the threat will become a reality. Threat assessment is separate to the more established practice of violence-ri ...
s and the commander's approval. This event is authorized once every 45 days at sea, so once a beer day is held, the ship's crew has to wait another 45 continuous days without a port call until another beer day could be authorized.
Intent
The purpose of a beer day is to boost ship morale by providing the crew with an opportunity to relax and are usually coordinated with cook-outs, authorized wear of civilian clothes and other operational stand-downs commonly referred to as
Steel Beach Picnics.
See also
*
Rum ration
The rum ration (also called the tot) was a daily amount of rum given to sailors on Royal Navy ships. It was abolished in 1970 after concerns that the intake of strong alcohol would lead to unsteady hands when working machinery.
Tradition
The ...
*
Steel beach party
References
External links
Press release describing a beer day
{{US Navy navbox
United States Navy traditions
Drinking culture
Alcohol and the military