The UK navy is tightening the taps on allowing alcohol at sea, the defence ministry said Thursday. This would be handed out to Royal Navy personnel for about three centuries until the practice was ended in July 1970. Under new rules unveiled this week, Royal Navy personnel should consume no more than three units of alcohol per day or 14 units of alcohol per week regardless of rank when at sea, a defence source told AFP, asking not to be named. "The updated policy aligns with advice from the UK chief medical officer, ensuring that our people remain fit for naval operations and comparable with modern military and civilian maritime standards," a Royal Navy spokesperson said. The new restrictions will not apply when sailors are not aboard ships, for example on on-shore bases, the defence source said.