Editing Grog (section)

===Popularization of rum and invention of grog===
Following [[Invasion of Jamaica|England's conquest of Jamaica]] in 1655, rum gradually replaced beer and [[brandy]] as the drink of choice for the [[Royal Navy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pietrek |first1=Matt |title=The History of Royal Navy Rum |date=18 June 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9niZrL_jOss |publisher=Still It |access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref> The prior ration of eight pints of beer was replaced with a ration of one half-pint of spirits. In 1740, to minimise the subsequent illness, drunkenness, and disciplinary problems, [[Vice-admiral (Royal Navy)|British Vice-Admiral]] [[Edward Vernon]] ordered that the daily rum issue of {{convert|1/2|imppt|ml|spell=in|0}} of rum be mixed with {{convert|1|impqt|ml|spell=in}} of water, a water-to-rum ratio of 4:1, with half issued before noon and the remainder after the end of the working day. This both diluted [[Drunkenness|its effects]] and accelerated its spoilage, preventing hoarding of the allowance. The mixture of rum and water became known as a "grog". This procedure became part of the official regulations of the [[Royal Navy]] in 1756 until the reduction of the ration to the "tot" in 1850. Sailors were given {{convert|1/8|imppt|impgi ml|0|lk=on|spell=in|abbr=off|adj=pre|of an}} of [[rum]] daily, or 17.5 imperial oz a week.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Dietary Rations in the British Navy |journal=The British Medical Journal |date=8 November 1873 |volume=2 |issue=671 |page=548}}</ref> The issued ration of rum was called a "tot," and typically had a high alcohol content (54.6% ABV).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-17 |title=Navy Rum Strength isn't 57% |url=https://cocktailwonk.com/2021/08/navy-strength-isnt-57.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Cocktail Wonk |language=en-US}}</ref> This practice continued [[Black Tot Day|until 1970]].{{cn|date=March 2024}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Lawrence |title=The Abolition of the Rum Ration |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1970/july/abolition-rum-ration |access-date=2024-08-20 |issue=96/7/809 |publisher=United States Naval Institute |date=July 1970}}</ref>

Some writers have said that Vernon also added citrus juice to prevent spoilage and that it was found to prevent [[scurvy]]. This is not the case, and is based on a misreading of Vernon's order. Having instructed his captains to dilute the sailors' daily allowance of rum with water, he says that those members of the crew "which ... are good husbandmen may from the saving of their salt provisions and bread, purchase sugar and limes to make it more palatable to them."<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Vernon Papers.|last=Ranft.|first=B. L.|publisher=Navy Records Society|date=1958|location=London|pages=417–9}}</ref> Lime juice was not then known to combat scurvy; scurvy symptoms at the time were largely treated with a diet of "fresh food", sauerkraut, meat broth, malt, and citrus oil.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scurvy |url=https://www.sea.museum/learn/school-excursions/teacher-resources/virtual-endeavour/scurvy |website=Sea Museum |access-date=2024-08-20}}</ref>
[[File:Royal Navy Grog issue.jpg|Royal Navy grog ration|thumb|right]]