BEVERAGES OF THE PEOPLE IN ENGLAND.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8160, 15 April 1895, Page 1

BEVERAGES OF THE PEOPLE IN ENGLAND.

On the motion of Sii F. Seager Hunt a Parliamentary return, illustrated by diagrams, has been issued, showing the consumption, from tho year 1861 up to tha lutosb date, of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and of tobacco, compared with tho increase of population. Tho general teaching of the official statoment, which has been prepared by tho authorities of tho Custom House, is that of beyorages tho augmonta ion in tho consumption of tho non-alcoholic drinks — tea, coffeo, cocoa, and chicory — has far exceeded that of tho alcoholic liquors. Tho former have risen from 125,000,000 lbs in 1801 to 2G5,000,0001bs in 1893. Tho figuro in tho diagram relating to tlioso articles is a sharp and continuous gradient upwards. On the other hand, the consumption of British and foreign, wines and spirits has risen from 35,000,000 gallons, in tho same period, to about 51,000,000 gallons ; but it was considerably higher from 1872 to 1878 than it is now. In tho samo way tho quantity of beer drunk, though about 50 per cent; moro than ib \vt\s thiny years ago, shows a decline when compared with tho years from 1872 to 1868. Exhibited in detail, it appears that tho Spanish nines attained thoir maximum in 1873, and that tho salo is less now than it wn» u> 1861. Tho consumption of French and Portuguese wines in g' outer than was tho case thirty years ago, but tho totals were largor in 1875 and 1876 than they are at present. Wines other than those of France, Spain, and Portugal, ohow a Blight advance. Tho consumption of tobacco has risen in tho interval from 29,000,00011)8 to 62,000,000 Ib 3. Tho most remarkable variations are shown in regard to beer. In 1861 the average amount consumed per hoad pec annum of tho population of tho United Kingdom was about 2i gallons. In 1874 this had advanced rapidly to 33^ gallons ; it then foil eteadi'y to 27 gallons in 1880, and has now risen again to 29 i gallons. Foieign wines in tho prosperous times of 1874 6 rose to 4£ pints per head yearly averago, and they havo sinco declined to lc c s than throe pints, Spirits, British and foreign, exceeded 10 pints per hoad in 1875, and they now average less thm 8 pints. Of tobacco the peoplo of these islands consumed each, in 1861, 190z9 per annum on an average. In 1893 the uao of tho weod had risen to 260z? per head.