What we Eat and Drink.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 27 August 1903, Page 5

What we Eat and Drink.

At no period in the history of Australasian trade has the need of stringent legislation for the suppression of adulteration, in New South Wales especially, been more urgent than at present. We have very little safeguard in New South Wales in the way of systematic inspection, analysis, and prosecution. Infringements of manufacturers' rights with respect to proprietary lines have to be combated by traders. Perhaps one of the most brazen systems of trade deception practised is that of the sale of liquors over the bar. There are hotels where, though recognised standard lines of liquors are displayed, both on the counter and in the fixturesf the labels on the bottles and the manufacturers name blown in the glass woefully belie the contents. The writer has during the past few weeks taken the opportunity to visit certain houses, and to mark bottles placed upon the counter purporting to contain leading brands of whisky, brandy, or schnapps. Although those behind the counter state that such-and-such a whisky or schnapps has a very large sale, and that they empty so many bottles each day, the same bottle is handed over the counter frequently for weeks and even months, until the label becomes soiled beyond recognition, and the bottle for sheer decency sake is substituted by another. This, in turn is filled and re-filled over and over again with cheap well-diluted, doctored spirit, which is systematically retailed to a class of drinkers who for the most part *' know not Joseph." This fraud is largely practised with whisky and schnapps. In the matter of whisky misrepresentation, the substitute is generally that of a low quality raw spirit.. Unfortunately, the same undesirable article is supplied to the poor, who have to resort to the " bottle and jug department"' for a small quantity of spirit, ordered by the doctor for the requirements of the sick. Custom, however, with regard to the adulteration of schnapps, which is frequently sold in the same way, assumes a more serious and dangerous aspect. Some little time ago a leading firm of Sydney merchants made over 25 prosecutions in connection with offering spurious schnapps over the counter. In every instance the prosecutions were successful, and fines amounting to about £SOO in the aggregate were paid by the offenders. The article sold over the counter as " schnapps " is frequently an admixture of low-priced gin and stale sodawater, and is always retailed out of a bottle into which is blown the name of a reputable firm, but who are complete strangers to the contents. This question is admittedly an extremely difficult one to deal with. The aggressive offender is hard to catch, and those who are set to watch are easily bribed to retreat with a bottle of genuine liquor. Still, what can be done in the United Kingdom or on the Continent can be done in Sydney, and there is no reason why wilful offenders should be excused because they are hard to catch. — Sydney paper.