The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-07
THE GOTHESBERG EXPERIMENT.
Diminishing the Evils Of Drink by Ra-
tional Restriction.

tMr. r. Major Lester In the Liverpool Courier.
We were out early and late, we traversed
all and every part OF the various towns and
docks sides and by-street5. We visited the
grades Of cafes and garden cafes on Sunday
evening as ON Monday, and the conclusion
forced upon US was that there was either In
the people themselves or in the system under
which they lived, or both combined, a power
full something which directed and regulated
ready for ;, the o., consumer, the traffic f
had scarce proposed our questions,
that we were inspecting the honest
working out of the Gothenberg system, and
that large proportion of that which had
caused SO much grateful satisfaction was the
natural outcome. The GothenberX system ID
one under the Sweden licensing act In which
the corporation Of the town, who are respon-
sible for it's order, purity and well-being, give
OF the drinking traffic. and they and they
alone, as the old licensed houses one by one
lapse, have the right or power to renew the
license or to Increase the present number, and
then only under their own management,
which management ia confessed to be mild,
yet firm. Through the company, whatever
be the money results Of the houses, the town
reaps the benefit. The company, as they see
need, open fresh public houses or buy up old
and not-required ones.
In Gotheuberg they have now fifteen closed
houses which they have purchased. and these
will be reopened under their charge II occa-
sion should require Then again, this Gothen-
berg system has one very noticeable and
wholesome feature, and it bespeaks the pa
ternal wisdom OF those who devised 1t and
who carry it out. The public houses are not
drinking but eating and drinking
houses. Food comes frst-is thrust into
view; spirits are all kept from sight. In fact
the public houses are restaurants.
At certain times ale and beer alone are not
sold-to be drunk on the premises--un
food be bought also; hence bona Tide tray
eler Ia easily discovered. We have gone into
these houses at various hours of the day and
different occupations thank God, no women
sitting at the small tables placed in various
parts OF the room, drinking and eating
Drinking either coffee, beer or porter, and
then one glass generally sufices for long
sitting. The very same description OF laoore1
whom / should see In our large towns and
villages drinking pints OF heavy, heady beeI
or glasses OF raw spirits, / see him here con
tent with his mug OF beer and pipe. and adj
ding thereto meat or cheese and bread.
This system closes public houses from on
Saturday evening until Monday morning, yet
giving to the garden cafes, which are In thu
hands OF the more responsible and weather.
managers, the privilege of selling ale and
porter on Saturday until II o'clock p. M, and
on Sunday evening after o'clock until IL
The results are visible to every observant
man-no inebriated persons at the rail way
stations, no drunkenness on board the boats
and no drunken brawlers In the streets. The
apprehensions and committals have fallen
off most noticeably, and the consumption Of
stuff has decreased. Some will demand
What about private drinking while the houses
are closed We have it from the official re-
turns that nearly one-half less has been
served out for home consumption. The system
is emphaticaily approved by the people. Il
seemed to us a perfect freedom subject to The
law for public good.