"Naval glass": How the tradition of vodka ration appeared in the Russian Imperial Navy, and why it did not take root

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The era of the sailing fleet is usually associated with adventures and battles among ordinary people. But for Russian sailors of the 18th-19th centuries, it was a time of hard work for the good of the Motherland, occasionally brightened up with a glass of vodka. Where did this tradition come from, and why it disappeared - further in the review.

When at the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th centuries. Peter I created the Russian fleet practically from scratch, in all matters and nuances he was guided by the advanced countries of Europe. It was from there that the tradition of giving out alcoholic drinks to sailors and soldiers was adopted.

At the time, British sailors drank rum, the Dutch drank beer and gin, and the Spaniards drank wine with lemon juice. These drinks would be a big waste for the budget of the Russian state, so Peter replaced them with "bread wine", that is, vodka, and introduced it into the diet.

In the Military Regulations of 1716, the food norm for all military personnel was stipulated. The lower ranks of the fleet were entitled to 4 glasses of "bread wine" a week, as well as about 3 liters of beer daily. Simultaneously with alcohol, severe punishment was introduced for its abuse.

By the way, a measure equal to 1/100 of a bucket, or 123 ml of liquid, was then called a glass, and it had to be given out, divided into two portions: part for lunch, and the rest in the evening. For this, there were special measurements, the so-called. half pay.

Receiving small portions of vodka and low-alcohol beer, the sailors felt more alert and less sick. So it was easier for them to survive the difficult working conditions on the deck of a sailing ship and sailing in the stormy Baltic. The sailors liked alcohol, and the officers had a new way to stimulate their subordinates. For minor offenses the sailor was deprived of vodka, and for some merits they were given an additional glass. After heavy drills to praise the whole crew, and also in winter voyages, the captain could give everyone an extra "treat".

Naturally, drunkenness was not enough in the Navy. According to the Peter's Charter, the guilty officer was deprived of his monthly salary, and the sailors were flogged with molts. The drunk guard was sent to the galleys, and the death penalty was imposed for drunkenness during the battle.

The process of drinking alcohol on a battleship actually turned into a ceremony. At the command from the bridge, the chief of the guard, accompanied by the watchman, the battalier (storekeeper) and the cabin boy, descended into the hold, opened the "wine cellar" and collected the vodka valley. The vessel was lifted onto the deck and placed on a special stool. The boatswains gave the signal for lunch, which began at the valley. Non-commissioned officers stood around her, keeping order, and the battalier noted on his list the sailors whose turn came up.

Starting with the senior in rank, the sailors approached the valley in turn, took off their hats, took a glass, scooped up vodka and drank it slowly. Passing the glass to the next one, the sailors hurried to dinner.

Russian writer-marine painter A. S. Novikov-Priboy, who served as a battalion soldier during the Russo-Japanese War, describes the process as follows:

There were also many sailors who refused vodka. The cost of each undrinked glass was summed up, and after the end of 7 years of military service, the sailor received a decent amount of money in his hands.

However, by the end of the 19th century, the era of sail was a thing of the past, and wooden warships were transformed into huge steel mechanisms. Smoothbore guns were replaced with modern long-range artillery. Changes in the fleet have even affected the age-old tradition of dispensing a glass of vodka before dinner.

The naval officers and doctors believed that the service had become much easier, so the need for vodka rations disappeared. The question of whether to leave the naval cups or to remove them altogether was decided "at the very top." Finally, in 1909, the General Staff issued an order banning alcoholic beverages in the army and navy. Instead, it was proposed to organize a society of teetotalers and "pay attention to the development of sports, the organization of competitions in the form of gymnastic, shooting, equestrian, sailing and other holidays." Naturally, this measure displeased the sailors and seriously affected the authority of the tsar among ordinary sailors.

Today it seems just incredible that traditional food for sailors of the 18th century … Only a very hungry person could eat it.