The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-13 00:00:00

that it would prove a 3 great a failure as in
America ; and that, so far from there being a
diminution of drunkenness, there would be a con-
siderable increase thereof, while a large propor-
tion of the population would be brought into a
state of habitual violation of the law, productive
of very injurious consequences to the well-being

of society.
It is notorious that in nations where what are
commonly designated as " intoxicating liquors,"
viz., wine, beer, and spirits, are cheap and abun-
dant, and where restrictive regulations are com-
paratively scarce, the greatest sobriety prevails.
There will, of course, be exceptions to the general
rule—men, whom no law could restrain. But
the instances, as we have said, are rare, and
marked with general abhorrence. We believe,
if good wholesome beer, or wine, or even spirits,
could be sold at quarter the present prices,
and with every facility afforded for their being
obtained, that, after the first novelty had worn
away, there would be less consumption, and cer-
tainly far less inebriety than at present. The habits
so greatly complained of are, however, fostered
and stimulated that a handsome revenue may be
obtained by the State—not far from 20,000,0001
from duties or excise on intoxicating fluids, or
licenses for the sale thereof ; and no Chancellor of
the Exchequer will be induced to abandon so
large au amount, which provides for the interest
of at least two-thirds of the National Debt, for
the purpose of trying an experiment in a vexed
question.

The tax should, however, be only kept up for
the purpose of revenue ; and as to other matters,
we believe that the most auspicious results would
follow " unrestricted competition." It is the
virtual monopoly occasioned by the licensing sys-
tem that produces adulteration, with all its con-
comitant evils. At present, when the licenses are
regulated according to the mere caprice of " the
Great Unpaid," or to their arbitrary notions of
what may be the wants of the district, the
" thirsty souls" must be contented with what they
can get. Should an additional license be granted,
a treaty may easily be effected between
the rival vendors, and the public interests will
equally fall to the ground between the two props.
But if every man of unimpeachable character
could obtain a license on paymetit of a moderate
duty—or, better still, without any payment at
all—and on submitting to certain police regula-
tion, adulterations would virtually cease. "Good
wine would need no bush," and the Boniface who
su-pplied pure and wholesome articles at moderate
profits would triumph over his competitors,
although his goods were supplied in an hambre
parlour, devoid of the gaudy adornments and
meretricious glare of the Gin Palace.

As we have long since explained, this very
adulteration is the natural result of the licensing
system, which confers a virtual monopoly on a few
leviathan brewing establishments. These houses
being authorised to sell wine and spirits, as well as
beer, can afford to undersell their moro homely
beer shops in that single department. The latter
are therefore compelled to reduce the quality if
they cannot increase the price of their beverages.
And we fear that the example is too frequently
followed even in what are known as Brewer's
houses. If we look to they trouble and expense
incurred in aeekiug for a license from the Magi-
strate, and the risk of obtaining it in the first in-
stance, and subsequOntly of retaining it, we may
feel assured that the consumers must ultimately
pay for all, either in " meal or malt.," by en-
hanced prices, or impaired qualities.
Mr. Hinny desires to place " beer shops" un-
der the same rules as to licenses as the more am-
bitious in palaces. We should rather adopt the
view of the Select Committee, and assimilate
public houses to the beer shops. The
poplo can then decide on their own wants,