On July 1, 1914, the United States Navy, and its head at the time — Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels — threw away the proverbial key to the branch’s liquor cabinet for good by implementing “General Order No. 99”, which banned all spirits for good (at the time).

Here’s how the edict went:

“The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within a navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order.”

When it was first announced to the public in April of 1914, the newspapers ripped it apart, calling it an attempt to make its sailors soft.

While that’s certainly up for debate, what’s not is that military members affected by the new rule saw its lame duck liquid out the door by slurping up the stuff in unprecedented amounts right up until the final day.

The decree wasn’t erased until six years later.

For more on this whacky footnote in American military history, check out the following video from We Are The Mighty: