DRUNKENNESS DEFINED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 890, 10 September 1910, Page 3

DRUNKENNESS DEFINED.

At a recent sitting of the local Police Court, the Bench asked tor a definition of drunkenness. The sergeant of police submitted one which, however, did not meet with the approval of the counsel for defence. A subscriber, “ C. V. F.”, writes us that a constable in the Old Country came in for a severe wigging trom the Bench for not being able to prove a prisoner drunk. In order to meet any similar cases in future he recorded the following in his note-book: — (1) Sobriety.— When sober there is not much disposition to talk, and a glass or two predisposes to sleep. (2) Eively.—This state is reached by a glass or two more. Reasoning power good, and what is said is smart and pertinent. (3) Fresh. —Another glass, and the drinker is still more eloquent, but less logical. His jokes are capital in his own estimation. His perception is still tolerably clear beyond himself. (4) Very Fresh. —Conversation most highly coloured, eloquent, impassioned, and the drinker overwhelms his companions with a flood of talk, and begins to suit the action to the word. (5) Tipsy. —Gestures very vehement, and epithets much exaggerated. Argumentative, but not rational. Words considerably abridged and ideas lamentably obscured. Very Tipsy.—Got a turn for vocal music. Speechifies in incoherent language, and evinces a most decided tendency to mischief and locomotion. Proud as a peacock, brave as a Hon, and amorous as a dove. (6) Drunk. —Perversely quarrelsome and stupidly good uatured, dealing much in “shake-hands” and “knockdowns.” Tongue stammering, and feet unsteady, (7) Very Drunk. — Abortive attempts to appear sober. Sees everything double. Balance totally lost, and vocabulary reduced to a few interjections. (8) Stupidly Drunk. Head and stomach topsy-turvy, eyes fixed and glaring. Utter incapacity of speech and locomotion, accompanied with an indistinct consciousness of the situation. (9) Dead Drunk, —Trying to hold on to floor or, if asleep, confused dreams of the devil or his creditors.