WEAKER BEER.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 January 1919, Page 5

WEAKER BEER.

LOWERING THE ALCOHOLIC CONTENT. STEP TOWARDS TEMPERANCE. SYDNEY, January 21. It is proposed to reduce the alcoholic strength of beer sold in this State, and the matte? will be submitted to Cabinet for decision with a view to calling a conference of brewer and experts to fix the new alcoholic standard. Mr Fitzgerald (Minister of Health) has been interested in this subject for many years, and h-'S iuse returned from Melbourne, where he \v».:. in close touch Montague Cohen, president of the conference of brewers which took the matter into consideration. It was agreed by conference, said Mr. Fitzgcraldys that from a technical standpoint ft was po.-?« ible to reduce bcor to an original specifie gravity of 10.40. which meant 3.67 per cent, of alcohol by weight. The Minister mentioned that the percentage of alcohol in beer at present was: New South Wales 4.51 to 3.43 and 3.2; Victoria, 6.2 to 3.67; Queensland, 3.78; Ta'omnia, 5.77 t0'6.09: '6.09: He hoped to reduce the strength?, of beer sold "in this State to 2.74 per cent.

The proposal, said Mr Fitzgerald, was a step in the direction of temperance. The brewing of Australia had shown that a beer with! a low alcoholic content could be snc-i cessfully made. The proposed reducttion of strength could be niad# without in any way deteriorating; from or affecting the wholesomene's of beer. Such a beer would increase the already high standard of -sobriety among Australians.