England's National Drink Bill.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 360, 17 April 1889, Page 3

England's Na tional Drink Bill.

Dit. Dawson Burns shows that, during the pa3b three years, the national expenditure on drink has not been much less than £125,000,000 a year. But when we make allowance foi the estimated yearly increase in the population, we find (says the 'Times') that the cost per head is not much more in 1887 than in 1886, ond that 1888 has been the most temperate of the three years. When we look back ten years we see more reason than ever to congratulate ourselves on tho marked signs of improvement in our national habits. In ] 876-78 the total expenditure on drink was some twenty millions more than the amount to which it has now Bunk, and Ji3 the population at that period w us some millions lees than now, the cost per head was proportionally somuch tho greater. The year 1876 is the worst to which Dr. Burns refers. In that year the cost of chink per head of population was £4 9s. For 1888 it stands ab £3 6s Bd. The decrease shown in the cost of drink per head of population has been going on concurrently with an improvement in trade, and with the increased spending powers which an improvement in trade brings. There is room for improvement, wo must admit, but we ace no reason for the gloomy view which Dr., Burns seems to. take, and less need than ever for the repressive measures which he hints as our only hope.