Do Not Drink Sign

Do Not Drink Sign

A do not drink sign is used aboard ship to warn crew and visitors against consuming liquids that are not fit for human consumption, particularly in galleys, mess rooms, and chemical storage lockers. On many vessels, cleaning fluids, solvents, and other non-food-grade liquids are decanted into unlabelled bottles or jugs for convenience during maintenance rounds, creating a real risk of accidental ingestion. Mounted above galley chemical cupboards, near cleaning stores, or on containers holding non-potable liquids, this prohibition sign gives an instant, language-independent warning. It forms part of a vessel’s broader chemical safety signage and belongs wherever a container’s contents could be mistaken for something safe to drink.

The pictogram follows the ISO 7010 prohibition format: a black drinking glass and tap symbol on a white background, overlaid with the standard red circle and diagonal bar that marks a prohibited action. This universally recognised design means crew of any nationality understand the do not drink sign at a glance, without relying on written instructions. The sign carries IMPA code 33.8550 and ISSA code 47.585.50, the reference numbers used by ship chandlers and marine suppliers worldwide when ordering replacement safety signage. Safety Sign Hub stocks this pictogram ready for despatch, so vessels can reorder using either catalogue code without delay.

Warning Against Contaminated or Decanted Liquids

Aboard ship, cleaning chemicals and solvents are frequently transferred from bulk drums into smaller bottles for day-to-day use in the galley, laundry, or engine spaces. Without clear labelling, these containers can look identical to drinking water bottles left in a mess room or crew cabin. Placing this sign directly on chemical storage cupboards, spray bottle racks, and decanting stations reduces that risk significantly. It is also useful in galley pantries where non-potable rinse water or sanitising solution is kept alongside food and drink supplies. For vessels reviewing their chemical handling procedures, this sign is a low-cost addition that complements our full range of prohibition signs used for shipboard hazard control.

Every sign is produced on fire-retardant, photoluminescent-grade material designed to remain legible even if galley lighting fails or fills with smoke during an emergency. The print is UV-stable, so signage mounted near portholes or on exposed weather decks will not fade or yellow over years of service. A protective laminate resists the humidity, grease, and cleaning agents typical of galley and pantry environments, so the pictogram stays crisp rather than peeling or cracking. This durability matters on vessels where washdown and steam cleaning are routine, and where a faded or illegible prohibition sign offers no real protection.

This do not drink sign is available as a self-adhesive vinyl label for direct application to bottles, cupboard doors, and bulkheads, or as a rigid plastic panel for more permanent mounting in stores and chemical lockers. Both formats carry the same IMPA 33.8550 and ISSA 47.585.50 codes, making reordering straightforward for ship’s stores officers and shore-based procurement teams alike, without needing to special-order a different product for each location.

Supporting Onboard Chemical Safety Practices

Prohibition pictograms like this one align with the hazard identification principles reflected in ISO 7010 and the AS 1319 safety sign standard. Using consistent, internationally recognised symbols across a fleet means crew transferring between vessels, or joining from different countries, immediately understand what a sign is warning against. Fitting this sign alongside other ISO 7010 prohibition and warning signage helps a vessel maintain one coherent visual safety language throughout galley, stores, and machinery spaces.

During pre-departure safety rounds, many chief stewards check that every chemical container in the galley and pantry is correctly labelled and, where applicable, marked with this sign before sign-off. It is a practical habit: a crew member restocking cleaning supplies from a bulk drum can decant into a bottle, apply the sign immediately, and avoid the container ever being mistaken for drinking water later in the voyage. Because the sign is inexpensive and quick to apply, it is worth keeping a small supply in the galley chemical locker so replacements are on hand whenever an older label wears out.