Over time , drunkenness on board naval vessels increasingly became a problem .
The ration was formalised in naval regulations by Admiral Edward Vernon in 1740 and ordered to be mixed with water in a 4 : 1 water to rum ratio and split into two servings per day .
Over time , drunkenness on board naval vessels increasingly became a problem and the ration was formalised in naval regulations by Admiral Edward Vernon in 1740 and ordered to be mixed with water in a 4 : 1 water to rum ratio and split into two servings per day .