BEER DRINKING IN AMERICA AND GERMANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2985, 1 September 1891, Page 4

BEER DRINKING IN AMERICA AND GERMANY.

It has generally been believed that the effects of beer drinking are far worse in America than in the old world, by reason of the quality of beer here, the nature of the drinking customs, the climatic influences, or some other cause. But recent reports from Germany indicate that they are struggling there with the evils of drunkenness, just as all other civilised nations aie now struggling. The following from the American Analyst shows the nature of the struggle in Germany "The evil has lately grown to such proportions that the Government has at length interposed to check it. It is expected that a general law for the suppression of drunkenness will be enacted and put in force in all the states of the German Confederation before the year is ended. A Bill on this subject has been prepared by the Prussian Government and has received the approval of the Emperor, who from the day he succeeded to the throne has persistently demanded some restrictions upon the sale of intoxicating liquors. For nearly three years his Ministers have been engaged in collecting statistics and evidence on the points concerned, and the decisions at last arrived afc have already been sanctioned by the Bundesrath. The Bill decrees the withdrawal of saloon licenses and the imposition of fines upon saloon keepers who encourage persons of inebriate habits. The drunkards themselves will be fined if they are poor, so as to prevent them from indulging in _ the vice of intemperance, and terms of imprisonment are to be imposed in cases where a monetary fine would presumably not have the desired effect." The contest with drink has become as wide as civilisation. It is neither a local nor a sporadic movement, but world-wide. All the current modes of regulating the evil are miserable failures everywhere. Every nation is beiDg forced into more and more advanced positions. America is leading them all, and they are all following at greater or less distance. The prohibition movement in this land carries with it something more than the destinies of a nation. It carries with it, as well, the destinies of civilisation.—-New York Voice.