DOES NO-LICENSE INCREASE DRINKING?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10493, 2 December 1911, Page 5

DOES NO-LICENSE INCREASE DRINKING?

\To The Editor. ]

Sir, —If No-License increases drinking, aa the "Trade" so loudly declares, then, to be logical and honest, they ought to give a handsome donation to tlhe various No-License Leagues' funds throughout the Dominion. We are aware t!hey are not doing anvtliiiig of the sort. They say: "The drink bill is ttiigher with twelve NoLicense districts than it was with one," tod then attempt to make. the. ignorant believe' tliat No-License and ahi increase of drinking go, hand-inr hamd. Of course-, 'anyofleknows that drinking has in NoLicense. district*., but id, License ones. Let us examine'.the facts: The average consumption, per 'head of population works out at £3 13s; taking the license districts only, the average is £4 3s 6d; then taking the No-License districts on their own., the average of 16s 3d is found. Now, Sir, seeing there are 160,000 people living under No-License, consuming an average of 16s 3d worth of dirink as against an average consumption in License districts of £4 3s 6d, thus revealing a difference of £3 7s 6d per head, a little calculation, will show that the "Trade" is losing £500,000 a. year as a result of this No-License business. No wonder they say No-License is a failure. They mean for their business, of course. Any business losing half a million golden sovereigns a. vear is on a pretty bad wicket. I think this is an aspect of the question which ishould not be overlooked. (The figures quoted re consumption per head are official figures.)—l am, etc., THOUGHTFUL.