oldgrubber, can you qualify the The Chof can test anyone he suspects is under the influence whilst on duty . . . the rules (if applied with common sense) are fair and don’t penalise watchkeepers or daymen either way and give ample opportunity to socialise (with alcohol) even at sea.
Now I read in a journal about 3 years ago that merchant ships officers were not permitted to drink while watch keeping whereas daymen were permitted a small quantity, perhaps the 2-can rule.
Can you comment on that?
Pre-Captain Calamities near miss (it were the miss that were near) with the rocks I had seen officers on cruise ships drinking wine or beer - never to excess. On my last cruise I didn't even see them with a glass to hand. Now a cruise ship rarely spends more than 10 hours in port so a no-drinking rule would have them teetotal for months at a time.
Are merchant ships' officers allowed to drink while at sea?