1970: Black Tot Day (End of the Royal Navy Rum Ration)

On 31 July 1970, ITN's Peter Sissons reported from HMS Albion in Portsmouth Harbour as sailors drank their last ration – or "tot" – of rum. Sailors in the Royal Navy had been given a daily ration of rum for 239 years, though the quantity had reduced over time. Finally, in 1970, the tot was scrapped altogether – partly to save money, partly to modernise the Royal Navy. Junior rates lost their rum ration entirely, Petty officers, however, were still allowed to drink spirits at lunchtime – a policy which, as Peter Sissons found out, was causing some disquiet in the ranks... #BlackTotDay #RoyalNavy #Quirky To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/... To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/footage... 🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) -    / @itnarchive   🎥 Follow us on Twitter -   / itnarchive   🎥 Like us on Facebook -   / itnarchiveitnp   🎥 Check out our TikTok -   / itnarchive1955