NO "SHOUTING"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2867, 4 September 1916, Page 8

NO "SHOUTING"

SEVERE EFFECT OF WAR

REGULATIONS

\ LAST WEEK'S BAR TRADE

"To-night's bar trade has been a bit better than the experience of the preceding days lias led us to expect, but it shows a very big decline indeed as compared with last Saturday night's returns."

Tho above was the reply of . one Wellington publican t<i a question regarding the business done in liis bar on Saturday evening. Other publicans had similar remarks to "make, and every one of them professed anxiety, even alarm, concerning the effect of the "anti-shouting" provision in the new War Regulations. A Dominion. reporter, who made some inquiries on tho subject, rrathered that there is scarcely a publican in Wellington whose gross receipts have not declined by at least 20 per cent, since the regulations came into force last week. In some cases the reduction is stated to have boon as hisfi as 30 tier cent, or more.

Visits to some of the city bars on Saturday night provided corroboration of the statements of the licensees. Tho bars were not deserted by any means. In fact, a casual observer might have gathered from the crowded apnea ranee of some well-known reports that trade was proceeding quite as usual. 'But a little observation and a few questions in the proper quarters made tho facts clear. Tie amount of money being taken over the counters was substantially less than on anv Saturday night for very many years pass, and the change in the of the trade was unmistakable. The ort-reneated reminder of the barmaids and barmen, "TCverv <rortleman must, nav for his own drink." seemed to have a subduing elfect rfn conviviality. Groups that- in other times would have lingered round a particular bar long "or several rounds of drinks, broke up quickly. H did not appear that customers were distressed liy *he new conditions, hut undoubtedly they were enjoying fewer drinks than thev would have done if the unwritten law of the "shout" had still been in operation.

One important effect of the new rute does not appear to- have been foreseen in nny quarter. The consumption of liquor has not declined in ratio with the redaction th« publicans' receipts, and this anpl : «s narticulnrly to spirits, on which the margin of profit has been very s>na!l .""co the war forced no, wholesale profits. It is possible that a rise in the retnil charges for snirits will he the result. "The 'heel tap' is tending to become a thing of the nast." said one vmhlionn. "Silpposing tliree men came into the bar last week with a little leisure on their hands, idne drinks probnblv would bo bought. Each man would pay for one round. But they would not take full drinks each time. After fcho first round they would be likely to content themselves with very . small drinks, and f'e house would profit accordingly. But now the three men are very often content with one drink each, nWI that a Mrr "tip. I don't know how we are to sell whisl-v fit nr«selit prices under such conditions."

A cortnin amount of evnsinn of t.lio regulation was inevitable, and it was not difficult to detect the occasional surreptitious pissing of n. sixpence, nr the hatching of some small conspiracy in a corner. "Every gentleman must pay for his own said one barmaid to a group of soldiers when her ears caught some reference to "Jack's round." "That's all light, Hiss," was the reply. "It's just a mutter among ourselves." But there was an obvious lack of enthusiasm about the. evasions of the law. It may he ii pleasant and - a sociable thing to have-a drink at the expense of a friend, and to buy a drink for him in return.. Byt is is quite another matter to accept a friend's sixpence •stealthily, as though it were a tip. and then hand it over the counter.

The licensed victuallers generally are* not ready yet to speak confidently of tho effect of the "no shouting" rule. They have not the-least doubt-that the change has involved them so far in very serious loss, and they see no reason for believing that they can regain all tho lost ground. But there are indications fhat the position may be a little better, from their point of view, during tho present week than it' was last week. The habit of years,, dating right back to the pioneer'days, lias made many colonials • feel that there is something positively mean about t.he single drink, bought for personal consumption. The "sliout" has been tho natural order of things so long that the changed conditions have been found startling. Hut- the publicans hope that people will bccomc accustomed to the new .order. If the bar trade does not show some recovery, then the- position will bo serious, according to tho licensees, and the necessity may arise for reduced staffs and increased prices.

The situation will be considered by "tho trade" during tho present week, and an attcnipt will be made to trace tho actual effect of tile regulation, as shown -in the bar trade of various houses throughout the city. Licensees are suggesting already that the brewery companies and the landlords generally may require to boar their share of the loss caused by a material ciiango' in the conditions muter which the retail sale of liquor , is conducted. The change was not foreseen, and the full extent of its operation could ?iot havo been anticipated.