Production and Consumption of Liquer.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 414, 26 October 1889, Page 6

Production and Consumption of Liquer.

The Chief of the Bureau of Statistics at Washington has issued a special statement in pamphlet form showing the production and consumption of spirituous and malt liquors and wines in the United States, \ United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and the Dominion of Canada for a series of years so far as data in regard thereto could be secured from the official publication? of those countries. According to this statement, the production of distilled spirits in the United States increased from 17,000,000 gallons in 1865 to 72,000,000 gallons in 1888, and the production of fermented liquore rose from 3,600,000 barrelsin 1565 to 24,700,000 barrels in 1888. The consumption of distilled spirits decreased from 80,000,000 gallons in 1870 to 76,000,000 in 1888, while the consumption of wine increased from 1 2,000, 000 in 1870 to 36,000.000 in 1888, and of malt liquors from 205,000,000 in 1870 to 767,000,000 in 1888. Of tho liquors consumed in 1888, 97 per cent, of the wines and 99 per cent, of the malt liquors were of domestic pro duction. In 1888 16,000,000 bushels of grain and 2,500,000ga110ns of molasses were used in the manufacture of distilled spirits. The total internal and Customs revenues derived from malt liquors, distilled spirits, and wines increased from $44,231,240 in IPB6 to $100,293,628 in 1888. The consumption per capita of malt liquors increased from 1*36 gallons in 1840 to 12-48 gallons in 1888. The consumption of wine per capita increased from '29 of a gallon in 1840 to •79 of a gallon in 1888. The consumption per capita of distilled spirits fell from 252 gallons in 1840 to I' 3 gallons in 1888. There has been little change in the consumption of spirituous Hquois since 1876, and the greater consumption in 1840, 1850, and 1860, as shown by these tables, waa probably occasioned in great part by the extensive use of spirits in the manufacture of burning fluids for illuminating purposes prior to the discovery of petroleum rather than to thoir consumption as beverages. Using the best available statistics as guides, Mr Switzler states that between 7 and 10 per cent, of the ent ire consumption of alcoholic liquors in tho *

United States goes into the arts and manufactures. Among the notable features, ■hown by the report ii the rapid increase of the consumption of malt liquors in the United Stated. In the consumption of beer per capita Great Britain stands first, Germany second, the United Spates third, and Canada fourth. Franco is the largest consumer of wine per capita. Denmark appears to be the largest consumer of spirituous liquors per capita.