New Zealand was the last Navy in the world to give daily rum “tots” (1/8 pint), a tradition begun by the Royal Navy over 300 years ago. The daily tot of rum was originally issued to sailors to compensate for the poor food and living conditions, and to keep morale high. 

Rum tots are still given on some special occasions (such as the Queen’s birthday) as authorised by the order ‘splice the main brace’, issued by the sovereign or her representative. 

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