History Main / TheDrunkenSailor

* The song is used in one of the WaxingLyrical sketches on ''Radio/JohnFinnemoreSouvenirProgramme'', with a modern naval hearing for an Able Seaman charged with being drunk on duty, being derailed by one admiral who keeps suggesting the punishments from the song, adding that "the ear-''li''-ness of the morning" is an essential part of them. He's eventually given three months suspension without pay, and ordered to attend alcohol management sessions. But as a comprimise, the sessions are to be held ear-''ly'' in the morning.

--> Weigh heigh and up she rises
--> Weigh heigh and up she rises
--> Weigh heigh and up she rises

* ''The Irish Rover'' mentions a crewmember named Slugger O'Toole who "was drunk as a rule."

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* Closely related: the dockworkers in ''Series/TheWire'' can be seen downing beers at all hours. That includes breakfast; several dockworkers are seen lining up at the bar for a "breakfast" of raw egg dropped in beer, with a whiskey to chase. ''WebVideo/BingingWithBabish'' tried it in the ''Wire'' special; he said he couldn't imagine going to work after this "meal", as all he wanted to do afterward was take a nap.

* Closely related: the dockworkers in ''Series/TheWire'' can be seen downing beers at all hours. That includes breakfast; several dockworkers are seen lining up at the bar for a "breakfast" of raw egg dropped in beer, with a whiskey to chase. (''WebVideo/BingingWithBabish'' tried it in the ''Wire'' special; he said he couldn't imagine going to work after this "meal", as all he wanted to do afterward was take a nap.)

* Closely related: the dockworkers in ''Series/TheWire'' can be seen downing beers at all hours.

Especially prevalent in works set in the era of WoodenShipsAndIronMen or in the future since SpaceIsAnOcean. [[MoreLikeAFootnoteThanAnythingelse As a sidenote]] the actual ration issued up until 1740 in the [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships Royal Navy]] was a gallon of beer or a pint of wine or half a pint of spirits per person per day. Admiral Vernon then cut this to a quarter pint twice a day, mixed with water and limes to prevent scurvy, and eventually it became the traditional 1/8 pint "tot" which was officially retired [[http://www.hmstheseus.co.uk/tot.htm in 1970.]] There were some very uncomplimentary epithets levelled at the Admiral responsible and the day is still known as Black Tot Day.

* In ''Film/AStudyInTerror'', a pair of drunken sailors on shore leave attempt to solicit the services of Liz Stride for a night of fun. However, they are moved on by a policeman, and when Liz goes in search of another customer, she is murdered by UseFulNotes/JackTheRipper.

This is a case of TruthInTelevision due to the disinfecting abilities of alcohol; mixing it with water was the only way to keep water potable during long voyages, especially on early boats when cooking had to be limited due to fire risk (or on open decked boats impossible to do). Also, a drunk crew was a crew less capable of {{The Mutiny}} due to the horrific conditions (this being the "rum" part of those great Naval traditions of "rum, [[HelloSailor sodomy]] and [[ATasteOfTheLash the lash]]"), and the strength of alcohol could be varied as punishment or reward as the captain saw fit. It continues to be true because when you take a bunch of generally adult persons and put them in a cramped space for an extended period of time with limited and ever diminishing supplies... well it rather built tension.

** Unfortunately, the man frequently gets MisBlamed, because while he ''did'' have a known alcohol problem and ''was'' drunk during the grounding, he was explicitly ''off'' duty, and not on the watch at the time: having completed his watch, he went down to "unwind" so to say,[[note]]During the same hearing it was revealed that Exxon has been routinely running its tankers with skeleton crews, resulting in 10-14 hours shifts, and major malfunctions not repaired for years on to save on the maintenance, which added to the crews' stress.[[/note]] and the one who actually ran aground was [[EnsignNewbie an inexperienced third mate]] because [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the ship's radar was broken and not repaired]] ''[[CorruptCorporateExecutive for the whole year]]'' [[CorruptCorporateExecutive to save money]]. This is actually reflected in the court decision, as while Hazelwood was relieved of shipboard duty, he wasn't otherwise heavily punished (he received just a $50000 fine and 1000 hours community service).

->''Earl-aye in tha morrrnin'?''

* ''The Time of Your Life'' has one of these as an unnamed minor character, one of Kitty's clients.

** This image was even used to promote [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK7n1Q-fDeA Skol Lager]].

Especially prevalent in works set in the era of WoodenShipsAndIronMen or in the future since SpaceIsAnOcean. [[MoreLikeAFootnoteThanAnythingelse As a sidenote]] the actual ration issued up until 1740 in the [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships Royal Navy]] was a gallon of beer or a pint of wine or half a pint of spirits per person per day. Admiral Vernon then cut this to a quarter pint twice a day, mixed with water and limes to prevent scurvy, and eventually it became the traditional 1/8 pint "tot" which was officially retired [[http://www.hmstheseus.co.uk/tot.htm in 1970]]. There were some very uncomplimentary epithets levelled at the Admiral responsible and the day is still known as Black Tot Day.

* The sea captain in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

Especially prevalent in works set in the era of WoodenShipsAndIronMen or in the future since SpaceIsAnOcean. [[MoreLikeAFootnoteThanAnythingelse As a sidenote]] the [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships British Navy]] only stopped the official grog rations [[http://www.hmstheseus.co.uk/tot.htm in 1970]]. There were some very uncomplimentary epithets leveled at the Admiral responsible.

* In ''Film/MrRoberts'', the sailors regularly brew up "[[MilitaryMoonshiner jungle juice]]" from unspecified ingredients in order to while away the endless tedium. And when they're granted liberty on Elysium (after many months of uninterrupted duty), many of them get so utterly soused that they have to be hauled back aboard in a cargo net. As for the ones who can still walk, their antics are so outrageous that the ship is permanently banned.

** Unfortunately, the man frequently got MisBlamed, because while he ''was'' drunk during the grounding, he was explicitly ''off'' duty, and not on the watch at the time: having completed his watch, he went down to "unwind" so to say,[[note]]During the same hearing it was revealed that Exxon has been running its tankers with skeleton crews and major malfunctions not repaired to save on the maintenance, which added to the crew's stress.[[/note]] and the one who actually ran aground was [[EnsignNewbie an inexperienced third mate]] because [[CorruptCorporateExecutive the ship's radar was broken and not repaired]] ''[[CorruptCorporateExecutive for the whole year]]'' [[CorruptCorporateExecutive to save money]]. This is actually reflected in the court decision, as while Hazelwood was relieved of shipboard duty, he wasn't otherwise heavily punished (he received just a $50000 fine and 1000 hours community service).

* Although usually a comic trope, it can also lead to tragedy. It was long rumored that John Hazelwood, skipper of the ''Exxon Valdez'' was [[DrinkingOnDuty drunk at the time of the accident]], which caused the grounding and terrible oil spill. This theory was confirmed in the [[UsefulNotes/AmericanCourts United States Supreme Court]] case ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Shipping_Co._v._Baker Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker]]'',[[note]]In which the court decided exactly how much the plaintiffs could take in punitive damages from Exxon; the case was heard primarily to set a precedent within the federal system of admiralty law.[[/note]] in which Justice Souter (who wrote the majority) saw fit to note that Hazelwood had had five double vodkas the previous night, "enough that a non-alcoholic would have [[SophisticatedAsHell passed out]]," and was sleeping it off when the ship ran aground.

* Captain Haddock and whiskey from ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}''.

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* Many of the ''Ride/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' are drunk to the point of slurring their speech and/or singing. This is especially true once you get into "town", though several of the pirate skeletons prior to that point are holding containers that most likely weren't intended for soft drinks.

* Although usually a comic trope, it can also lead to tragedy. It was long rumored that John Hazelwood, skipper of the ''Exxon Valdez'' was [[DrinkingOnDuty drunk at the time of the accident]], which caused the grounding and terrible oil spill. This theory was confirmed in the [[AmericanCourts United States Supreme Court]] case ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Shipping_Co._v._Baker Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker]]'',[[note]]In which the court decided exactly how much the plaintiffs could take in punitive damages from Exxon; the case was heard primarily to set a precedent within the federal system of admiralty law.[[/note]] in which Justice Souter (who wrote the majority) saw fit to note that Hazelwood had had five double vodkas the previous night, "enough that a non-alcoholic would have [[SophisticatedAsHell passed out]]," and was sleeping it off when the ship ran aground.

->''What shall we do with the drunken sailor''
->''What shall we do with the drunken sailor''
->''What shall we do with the drunken sailor''

* Although usually a comic trope, it can also lead to tragedy. It was long rumored that John Hazelwood, skipper of the ''Exxon Valdez'' was [[DrinkingOnDuty drunk at the time of the accident]], which caused the grounding and terrible oil spill. This theory was confirmed in the [[AmericanCourts United States Supreme Court case ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exxon_Shipping_Co._v._Baker Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker]]'',[[note]]In which the court decided exactly how much the plaintiffs could take in punitive damages from Exxon; the case was heard primarily to set a precedent within the federal system of admiralty law.[[/note]] in which Justice Souter (who wrote the majority) saw fit to note that Hazelwood had had five double vodkas the previous night, "enough that a non-alcoholic would have [[SophisticatedAsHell passed out]]," and was sleeping it off when the ship ran aground.