METHYLATED SPIRIT DRINKING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 29 May 1912, Page 3

METHYLATED SPIRIT DRINKING.

Considerable diseussi .n lias recently taken place in most of largo centre respecting the increased amount of drunkerness arising f rom t ] lG consumption of methylated spirits. A police official intervnvod in Auckland last week says : — Wo have conclusive evidence that methylated spiiit is dvunk by a certain class of men and women" in Auckland. Occasionally wo got ,i new remit, but the majority "of well known to us as persons who "have partically ruined themselves with drink already, Thov start on ordinary libuor, but by reason of prohibition orders and other difliculties in their way they take to methylated spirits, which "is cheap, strong, and easily procured from chonvsts, oil and colour merchants, and general stores — much more easily in fact than other liquor. It seems to be a favourite drink with those people on Sundays aud at others times when hotels are clcsed. Wo find that at least ninety per cent, of Sunday drunkards by the strong smoll which hangs about them, and I feel quite safe Tn saying that some have been found so charged with the spirit that we have been afraid to bring them near a light Practically all of them shake and tremble as an ordinary drunkard never does. ' We h«ul a little experience of habitual methylated spiiit drinking about twelve years ago, " concluded the oilicer, "and since then it has gradually beoGme inorc common, Still, Ido not think that there need be any great alarm about it. for people who take methylated spirits are so far gone that they Avill take anything. In earlier days I havo known such persons to go the length of drinking bay rum, seem kitchen essences, and Worcester Sauce in order to gratify their craving for stimulant. In visvr of (his the habit is not likely to go beyond the most degraded class of population.