The question is simple, the British Royal Navy, and I assume other European navies, had alcohol rations, since we served as a colony for a good while, I would imagine we did l, too. So, if we did, why did we stop? And if we didn't, why didn't we?
The US navy did indeed have a daily alcohol ration for much of its existence.
It was the insistence of one man, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels(1913-1921) who did away with it all together. Though by the time General Order 99 was issued in July 1914 the USN had steadily eroded access to spirits afloat for many years. This is apocryphally why Coffee is called a 'Cup of Joe' having been born from the scornful toasts that bitter navy men raised to their esteemed Secretary.
Specifically the daily ration issued to each enlisted man in either rum or whiskey was first curtailed, and then done away with all together in 1862 during the Civil War. The men could still keep their own private stocks at their officers' discretion for a time but in the late 1880's this to was forbidden.
That left the Officers and the Wardroom as the last place that liquor could be found afloat for consumption (along with the Dispensary and the Medicinal Whiskey that the medical staff could dole out if we are pedantic). But Daniels was something of a teetotaler and prohibitionist. Thus came General Order 99 in the Summer of 1914 which barred this final bastion of booze.
It stated:
"The use or introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."
It does however lead to a funny episode, as when the deadline of July 1 approached, much of the fleet was off Mexico supporting the occupation of Veracruz along with ships of several European powers. On some vessels it was decided that the whole crew would take to a joint effort to see that the remaining stocks did not go to waste. Some held banquets, some made giant punch bowls, some even invited guests from other ships. Including ironically from HMS Hermione, and SMS Dresden who would become foes in a short months time come August.
There was still an exception for the Doctor and his medicinal booze it should be pointed out(which would become a common reward for men undertaking dangerous duty such as early naval aviators), and even today after a varying number of continuous days underway the Navy has its tradition of having a Steel Beach cookout and ensuring every man waits in line for his two warm beers!
Daniels meanwhile would continue trying to stamp his mark on the fleet. He also made it the Navy's business to see that no houses of ill-repute and ladies there-in operated within 5 miles of any navy shore establishment. Enforcement of that became something of a shit show in both New Orleans and Norfolk. His allowance of an elaborate and loosely run sting operation in Newport RI to find homosexual sailors also drew sharp critiques and he was hauled before Congress along with his Assistant Secretary, one Franklin Roosevelt.
Daniels greatest contribution may be in that fact, that he gave FDR the room to run the Navy's difficult and large mobilization for war, and he did often in his own way support modernization and technological advancement in the Navy including wireless radio and naval aviation. But he was also notable even by the standards of his time for his deeply racist views, and his willingness to support not just White Supremacy, but active terror campaigns against African American populations, in part through his ownership of the Raleigh News and Observer. Especially notable is his role and complicity in helping start an episode in Wilmington NC in 1898 when the duly elected city government was overthrown by an armed white mob and a series of killings and terror followed. He essentially owed his appointment more to his power within the Democratic Party at the time and in securing Woodrow Wilson additional support than any great connection with the sea.
Thus he takes top spot for most hated Secretary of the Navy of all time in a landslide, and while he mellowed some of his most abhorrent views with age they never went away completely and many of his most progressive causes were also justified in dreadfully racist terms. FDR would also then appoint him Ambassador to Mexico later in life until 1941.
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