The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-02 00:00:00

THAMES-OFFICE.

ADULTERATION OF BEER AND Li+Vons.—On Satur-
day, after the disposal of the night charges, Mr. Ballan-
tine, the presiding Magistrate, called the attinitiOn of
Mr. Valentine, the inspector of the 11 division, to a sub-
ject of great importance—the gross adulteration of beer,
ale, and liquors by publicans, to the detriment, the worthy
Magistrate said, of the health and morals of the people.
He wished that the observations he *At AMA to Matte
should go forth to the public, and be reported to the Po-
lice Commissioners. He sat at that Court day after day,
and had done so for upwards of 20 years and iiihnarroils
cases had been under his notice where persons went into
public houses sober, and after drinking one glass of spi-
rits, beer, or ale, became insensibly drank, not *OM the
quantity, but the quality, of the beverage served to
them. It was well known that a person who was skilful
in compounding noxious ingredients: for the adultera-
tion of ale, beer, and spirits, was considered hi the trade
as best qualified for the duties of eellarman and barman,
and indeed there was little secret made about the matter.
There were a few, and but few, houses where the getitline
article was sold as it was received by the publican from the
brewer or distiller. That morning he had asked a man.
found by the police in the street in a state of insensibi-
lity, how he came to get intoxicated, and he said, with
an air of truth, that he had only taken one glass of
spirits and became stupid directly, losing all conscious-
ness. The same answer had been given to his queries
on repeated occasions ; and from inquiries he had made,
and the circumstances of particular cases where strong
men had suffered by a small quantity of drugged and
adulterated gin or beer, which disordered the stomach
and produced nausea, and in many instances produced
great suffering to the parties for several days afterwards,
he was satisfied that the system must be carried to a
most alarming extent. Seamen and others were often
inveigled into brothels, and liquor or ale was sent for,
adulterated with noxious drugs for the purpose of stupi-
fying them, and while in that state they were robbed and
turned out penniless. He expressed himself thus openly
that the public might be aware of a great evil, and that
the CommisSioners of Police might be enabled to pro-
tect the people against the consumption of spurious
liquors, and have the stuff analysed," and proceed
against the parties vending it. It was against the
tenour
of a publican's licence to adulterate his
beer and liquors, and if a case were made
out before him he would convict in heavy pe-
nalties. There were houses kept open in that
'district and iii other parts of-the metropolis-during the
night, and the beer, ale, and spirits disposed of to night-
walkers out at unseasonable hours, were not only adul-
terated and of a most nauseous description, but a larger
price was demanded for these than the good beer and
liquors sold during the day. He was speaking before
persons who must know these things swell as - himself.
Ile would do all the law enabled him to do, but it was
the bounden duty of the police, on the part of the pub-
lic, to look after those person who sold liquors, a small