A gallon of beer was the penalty for falling into the Thames in the nineteenth century dockside – if you wanted to be rescued.
” – On Wednesday the 16th Inst. a man of the name of Edwards, while working out a barge laden with coals at Queenhithe, had the misfortune to slip off the plank into the river. His companions, on hearing the splash in the water, ran to his assisstance, and instantly succeded in getting hold of his jacket; but, instead of immediately dragging him out, they barely kept his head above water, and began vociferating ‘Beer! beer!’ The man in the water in short time endeavoured to speak, but had no sooner opened his mouth than a wave, owing to his head being kept so low, gently glided down his throat, and prevented him; he was then allowed to stand up, the water being at the spot about four feet deep, but not to get out, and as well as the water in his throat would allow he bawled out ‘beer!’ His black companions on hearing him mention the word ‘beer,’ immediately assisted him in getting into the barge, and the whole gang of them shortly after repaired to the Farnham Castle, Trinity-lane, and ordered the landlady to send in a gallon of beer. On inquiring into these curious proceedings, it turned out that the coal-heavers have a standing rule, that if any man falls overboard, he is to be fined a gallon of beer; but as many of them, after being safely pulled out, have refused to comply with the rule, they now keep the unfortunate fellow in the water till he gives his consent by called our ‘beer!’ when they take him out, and proceed to a public-house, and drink a gallon at his expense.”
The Stamford Mercury, 25th April, 1828.