BRITAIN'S DRINK BILL

Southland Times, Issue 18853, 19 June 1920, Page 8

BRITAIN'S DRINK BILL

FIGURES FOR LAST YEAR LESS THAN PRE-WAR STANDARD. The national drink bill for 1919 has been compiled by George B. Wilson, political secretary of the United Kingdom Alliance. He reports:—"The consumption of intoxicating liquors in the United Kingdom during 1919, measured in terms of absolute alcohol, showed an increase of approximately 00 per cent, over 19IS, but was still about 35 per cent, less than in the pre-war year 1913. “The expenditure on intoxicants showed the large advance of 49 per cent, over 1918, and of no less than 132 per cent, over 1913. In other words, for every’ 100 gallons of alcohol consumed as spirits, beer or wine in 1918, the nation consumed in 1919 1130 gallons; and for every £IOO sjient on intoxicants in 1913 and 1918 the nation spent in 1919 £232 and £149 respectively. "During the year about three and a half million members of the forces were demobolised, and a considerable number availed themselves of their month’s furlough before demobilisation; the greater portion were absorbed into industry during the year. Considerable funds have therefore been available during 1919, and larger numbers of men than in 19IS have been at leisure during the hours, extended since the armistice, when intoxicating liquors were obtainable. "But the governing factor has unquestionably been the progressive relaxation of the restrictions upon the production of beer and upon the withdrawal of spirits from bond. The permitted output of beer at the dale of the armistice was 12.500,091) standard barrels per annum; for the quarter ended 31st March, 1919, it was at the rate of 15,270,000 barrels; for the quarter ended 30th June at the rate of 25,454,000 barrels; and a? from Ist, July it has been unrestricted except that the average gravity is limited to 1044 degrees for Great Britain anti 1051 degrees for Ireland. On 24th February the permitted withdrawal of spirits from bond was increased from 50 per cent, of the. quantity withdrawn in 1910 to 75 per cent.; and on 18th November the limitation on withdrawals came to an end, but the central control board's order restricting the strength of spirits to a maximum of 30 under proof is still in operation. "The effect of these relaxations upon consumption is shown in the following table: — ISIS. IJU. IV-er (PtanOarO Parrels) .. 12,791,000 .. 21.752.100 Spirits (proof gallons! .. ir».l2o.of>o 21,721,000 Winn (gallons) n.::i2,i*'o .. 10,2.^.000 “I estimate the amount spent on intoxicants in the United Kingdom in 1919 at £380,600,000. compared with £259,300,000 in 1918, £259,000,000 in 1917, £204,000,000 in 1916, £182,000,000 in 1915, £164,500,000 in 1914, and £166.600,000 in 1913. "I estimate the expenditure during the current financial year ending 31st March next at not. less than £410,000,000. "The expenditure per head of the population was, in 1919, £8 8/, and per adult of 21 years and upwards (including abstainers', £l3 15/, as against £3 12/6 am! £5 19/ in 1913. The expenditure for each of the three kingdoms was probably:—

Total. head. £ £ B. M England anti Wales .. .. 525,000,000 .. Sls 0 Scotland 2G.onn.llfK) .. 7 10 0 Ireland 27,000.0 iK) .. (I -1 0 "The total consumption of absolute alcohol in 1919 was approximately 60,000,000 gallons, as compared with 37,000,000 in 1918 and 92,000,000 gallons in 1913. Of this quantify-, 74 per cent, was consumed as beer, 20.5 per cent, as spirits, and 5.5 per cent, as wine, cider and perry. "The per capita consumption in 1919 was approximately; — 1912. 191:’. Hcer. 25 pal (hulk).. 17 .. 27.7 Spirit* (proof pal.) .. 0.17 .. O.Td Wine (gal.) 0.41 .. 0.2;7 "The consumption among adults of 21 years and upwards, including abstainers, was:—Beer, 41 gallons (bulk), or 28 (stand, i; spirits, .77 proof gallon; anti wine, .68 gallon. The consumption iwr head of the population for the three king doms was about: — n<*or Spirits Hulk Ciftl.). (Proof 0a.1.). Ktirlaikl and Wales .. 2S'’ 2 0-42 Scotland *o'* .. O.SIj Ireland DD.3 0.4? "It is worth noting that the consumption of milk in Great Britain in 1918 was under 12 gallons per head, which is ’less than half the normal average consumption of the city of New York. In many industrial centres there are known to be whole streets where no fresh milk is taken.’ “The taxation collected by the ‘Trade’ from consumers of intoxicating liquors during the year was;— 1319. Rerr £71.000,000 Spirits 48.500,000 Wines, Sec 2,300,000 £121.700,000 Drink 1)111 £586.600,000 Percentage 3114