NO-LICENSE INVERCARGILL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 220, 11 January 1911, Page 5

NO-LICENSE INVERCARGILL

EVEN SOFT DRINKS UNSAFE. By Telegraph.—Presa Association. lnvercargill, Last Night. The exact definition of the new Licensing Act legislation has yet to be determined, but to-day saw the re-opening of the soft drink bar in lnvercargill, which as recently announced, has since the start of the new year borne the announcement that "owing to the new Licensing Act being put into force this temperance bar is now closed." The cessation of business, it appears, was taken to avoid any risk of the premises being regarded as a place of resort ■'through customers consuming liquor from a pcrsonaTiy carried flask or bottle as an accompaniment to aerated waters.' 1 The uncertainty thus prevailing was also responsible for some social events becoming "dry." That such a stringent interpretation of the Act has been a matter of inconvenience to a largo section of the public, and more particularly to visitors from the country, cannot be doubted, and considerable resentment was felt regarding the curtailment of the rights of the British public in being deprived of the liberty of taking a "pick-me-up" in private. It is now, however, considered that the casual use of a private bottle as an accompaniment to soft drinks purchased and consumed on hotel, restaurant, or other premises, is not a infringement of the Act, and the sequel to-day was that the old order of things was restored at the establishment referred to in lnvercargill, with the exception, of course, that the storage of liquor in lockers or in any form is prohibited. Police-Inspector Mitchell, on being spoken to yesterday by a Southland Times representative, expressed the opinion that the practice alluded to did not concern the police. The new development is also interesting by reason of the fact that it is now thought that alcoholic refreshments will be able to be dispensed at public dinners and gatherings, the provision for immediate consumption being no longer regarded as coming under the definition of "storage,'' and the place of entertainment not being interpreted as constituting a "resort."

At Gore, where on and from December 31st the sale of cordials for consumption with liquor had been suspended at the hotels and restaurants, steps similar to ttosc at Invercargill are beins taken for the recommencement of business, and solft drinks 1 will once more be obtainable without restriction.