The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-01-31
The Temperance Law in Sweden.
Correspondence London Times.I


Now to come to the charge Of drunk
enness. 1t was no doubt a crying evil
twenty years ago, and still the spirit
bottle plays prominent part wher-
: ever you go in Sweden. But there is
much improvement on the old days.
Of course l have learned what l could
of the Gothenburg system. Mr.. Cham
berlin has made it so well known IN
England by his advocacy that l need
not explain at any length what the
plan is. But to make my report upon
it clear, | will briefly say that it is
system by which the local authori-
ties Of towns in Sweden assume
the control of the wholesale and
retail consumption of spirituous
liquors. The sale is prohibited save at
authorized establishments. SO far, it
resembles our own system. But in
Sweden all the profit made by the sale
over and above 6 per cent is appropri-
ate by the town. This at once re-
moves the motive t. encourage excess
which actuateS the drink seller in
England. The management of the
wholesale in Gothenburg is conduct
ed by company, who let out the va
rious establishments to persons who
must have the approval of the town
council. Anything above the very
moderate profit OF 6 per cent does not
pinto the pocket of the company,
but into the municipal purse. The
seller gets onlyS very small share Of
the 8 per cent, and consequently the
demand for spirit licenses does not
even equal the supply. In Gothen-
burg siXty-three houses are permitted,
not quite one per 1000 inhabitants, a
very moderate supply. Like other
monopolies, thought it must lead to
illicit sale, but could find no trace
of any such abuse, aud was assured it
did not exist. The establishments
are permitted also TO furnish food,
wine, ale and porter. Drunkenness is
strictly prohibited; all houses are
closed at 8 at night, and none are
opened at all from Saturday evening
to Monday morning. visited one or
two of them, and l lunched at one in
the quarter described as the most dis
orderly in Gothenburg. 1t was clean
and quiet. The food was good, served
on fresh white cloth, in room hung
with the engravings of Gothenburg.
An excellent dish Of meat and pOta-
toes with as much bread as liked,
cost me four pence. Sailors were my
companions at table. They were not
only orderly but polite, and in none of
the rooms of this or the other estab-
lishments We're there the slightest sign
of excess. During my stay in Gothen-
burg Of several days spent chiefly in
strolling about the streets, saw only
three people the worse for liquor.
There are, however, objections to the
system. 1t, so to speak, legaliZes drink
and makes it respectable. In the old
days q man of position would not
enter a drinking shop; he has not now
the same objection to go into an
establishment under the public pro-
lection. Drunkenness is prohibited,
hut drinking is sanctioned. While
| the system is protection to the poor
1 man against his favorite vice, it is al
most an encouragement to the rich.
Then, again, the town profits much by
the surplus revenue which used only
to benefit the publican. The poor
house, the school, the public gardens,
in short, al municipal Institutions
are more easily entertained. Nearly
every town in Sweden has adopted the
plan. 1t has been in force in Stock
holm for over two years. In 1854
twenty-one liters of spirits were drank
per head to the population: in 1876
only ten liters were consumed, and
since then 1 am assured there has been
still greater diminution of consump-
| ton