Salted provisions, grog, and drink at sea

How did sailors cope with dehydration from heavily salted food?

Beer and grog supplied fluid with salted meals.

Beer and grog formed part of the response to heavily salted food. The panel links their use to poor water quality and attributes an antimicrobial benefit to the alcohol. Beer also supplied calories, while dilution was intended to limit intoxication during work such as climbing masts. The comparison extends to civilian drinking in towns where cholera made water a concern.