BEER DUELS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 195, 28 July 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

BEER DUELS.

fil'X WHO DRANK 100 MI'GS A DAY.

The beer-drinking capacity of the Germans is proverbial. To quote Henry de Halsalie, the author ot ''Degenerate Germany" (Werner Laurie) "The German beer-drinker drinks hoggishly; lie drinks not to slake nis thirst, but afterwards to boast of his capacity in swilling gallons of liquor. M. Halsalie relates how the Munich newspapers, not long ago, recorded with appreciation the death of an old man of eighty who had often been known to drink 109 mugs of beer (about ninety pints) in one day. In the same town there is a beershop which became famous some time ago through a noted beer drinker attending there regularly at noon. Crowds of persons would assemble to watch his performance. Having placed twelve mugs of beer on a table in front of him as the clock of an adjacent church began to strike twelve the beer swiiler would gulp down the contents of a mug at each stroke of the clock. Hearty cheers greeted him ; to consume twelve mugs of beer while the c'ock strikes twelve is something to be proud of —in Germany. In Berlin a student wa,s introduced to M. Halsalie, who held the record for drinking the largest amount ot beer without taking breath. It is quite a common achievement in Germany to drink one and three-quarter pints without taking a breath, but this student could drink three and a quarter pints without taking the faintest breath.

Throughout Germany the students at tiie Universities hold .what they call "beer duels." At these popular functions two of their number are accused of imaginary crimes, are tried, and the verdict is brought in that both the accused are guilty, and that they must suffer the extreme penalty of the law. This means that they have to swallow a large quantity of beer in a small, prescribed time. The 'oser has to pay for all the beev drunk during the Droceedings. The "culprits' 1 stand opposite one another, having the requisite number of mugs of beer plated ma the table before them. The signal given, the contestants grab for the mugs, which they , r -;ni)ty one after another in quick succession." Mug after mug disappears ns if th°y were poured down a sink. Cheorinu and shouting encourage the combati;.its Seldom do they finish ail t!i?ir mugs: but one student is sure to come tMit ahead of the other. The contest decided, the is borne n • iumnh t the "throne" —a chair placed on a beer-table at the end of the hall, where he is crowned with a. wrwith of laurel and addressed is a patron snint.