LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS

Levin Daily Chronicle, 31 August 1918, Page 1

LIQUOR RESTRICTIONS

BRITISH CONTROL SYSTEM. COMPARISON WITH AMERICA. . An explanation of the measures taken in Britain to prevent intemperance was recently given by Lord D 'Abernon, chairman of the Liquor Control Board. "We can claim in this country," he said, '' to have made more rapid progross towards the solution of the drink problem than any other country in the world. We can claim further to be on a more, durablo basis, because the restrictions imposed have not created any tendency among the public to resort to drugs or worse alternatives." Lord D'Abernon drew a comparison between the measures in force in Britain and those in America for restricting the output of drink. 'As regards the measures in forco in Britain," he said, '' an examination of tho restrictions which prevail here to-day will show that they arc not only more severe in many points than those which prevail throughout the United States, but also that they have been at least as effective in diminishing intemperance. Full prohibition throughout the States cannot come into forco before 1920. In the meantime different parts of the States are subjcct to varying regulations, and considerable difficulty is experienced on account of the innumerable frontiers between dry and wet States. PROHIBITION AND CONTROL. "The manufacture of spirits for potable purposes has been stopped both here and in the United States. Consumption of old stocks is apparently allowed in the States without restriction, exccpt in special prohibition areas, whereas in the United Kingdom the quantity released from bond is restricted to 50 per cent, of the amount cleared in 191(3, which had already been reduced far below tho per-war level. "With regard to beer, in the United States the materials used have been reduced to about 70 per cent, of the prewar figures. Here they kave been reduced to below 40 per cent. 111 the United States, under a new order which came into force at the beginning of the year, no malt liquor—except ale and porter—may now be produced containing more than 2.75 per cent, alcohol by weight, equal to approximately G per cent, of prof spirit. This corresponds to a gravity of about 1038 deg. In this country the average gravity of all beers has been falling rapidly in the last two years, and by the new order it has been reduced to 1030 deg.

"Wtli regard to restrictions on sale, approximately 63 per cent, of the 100.000,000 inhabitants of the United States live in prohibition areas, and outside of these areas 110 war restrictions appear to have been imposed except as regards sales to soldiers. In the United Kingdom 38,000,000 out of 45,000,000 inhabitants—that is S'-l per cent. —live in areas under the Control Board regulations. RESTRICTIONS IN BRITAIN. '' This means that in the non-prohibi-tion areas of the United States sale continues apparently on a pre-war basis except "as regards sales to troops, whereas in the controlled areas of the United Kingdom it is only permitted under severe restriction as to time of sale, shortened hours, and numerous other safeguards against temptations to excessive drinking. "It will thus be seen that this country has certainly not been behind the United States in imposing restrictions framed to diminish intemperance and excess. Personally, I see 110 call for— and no justification of —any more severe measures than those in forco. Indeed, I ain convinced that greater severity in tho past would hare meant less progress and less efficiency. Had we gone further we should have achieved less. In itself there is nothing admirable in severity. Merit does not reside in restricting refreshment or recreation, but in preventing excess. It is by its results that any system must be judged; and the results in our own case I have already indicated."