Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-11
LIQUOR DRINKING In EUROPE.
Some Startling Figures From British
Parliamentary Paper.

From the London TfuneA
A parliamentary paper Just published con-
tains reports from her majesty 3 Diplomatic and
consular officers upon the consumption Of in
toxicating LIQUORS abroad. Consul General OPP
penhelmer estimates, with regard to Germany,
that IN the distilleries ofthe empirein 1875 and
1876 at least 2O0, 900 900 litres of pure alcohol
were produced for mere consumption-or in
round number, litres per head of the popula-
ton Reckoning the male population over Is
years years, Oh age at 80 per cent, this would give
yearly CONSUMPTION OF 90 litres of pure alcohol
per head, or 30 Iitres of ordinary schnapps. BY
the year 1850 the quantity had increased to Il
iitres yearly per head. The consumption of spirits
yearly average of 4, 45O suicides in Prussia for
tive years, sos have been due todipsomania and
! among males due to alcohol was 3 40 whereas
among females it was only2. With regard to
lalal accidents also, a large number of them
tistcs were furnished in connection with the
iunatie asylums. Taking 3,1U6 cases yearly
a re'ea In the general hospitals for dipsomania
o9O cases OF deiirium tremens in the lunatic
asylulns, 597 private dipsomaniacs, sos sui
eides, and 81 drunkards accidentally killed,
Ism in a fatal form. The Prussian states alone
showed 1,921 men and 30 women treated
safy iof aertum trsmens II appears that
in the prime of life-that is, between 20 and So
years OF age. In the kingdom of Prussia, IN
alone was 261, 100000 marks, while all the
direct state taxes for the same period produced
OUT ioo,OoO,OOO marks Taking the whole ex-
pendltare upon beer, wine and spirits it
| amounted to 9O7, GOO, 900 marks, or more than
double the amount realized by the Prussian
exchequer for It's taxes and stamp duties, &C.
In Sweden and Norway the CONSUMPTION of
spirits has been declining for some years past;
Daa IN 1enmafk the eyil Of spirit drinking has
ards who have committed suicide has risen in
80 years from one-seyenth to one-third; while,
among the arrests, Sc per cent were cases Of
drunkenness, and adding to these Is per cent
| among prisoners for other otfeuses, there is a
grand total OF "a per cent, or three. iourlhs OF
all those taken into custody. fur crimes COM
mitted under the influence Of drink.
In Holland the number of houses for the sale
that in population of 1000 900 there was a
drink shop for every 30 Inhabitants, including
women and children; But, owing to the exer-
tons OF a portion Of the community, the legis-
lature passed restrictiv We law in 1881, with
the result that in the course of one year the
drink shops decreased from A. 900 to So 600
Belgium affords lncOntestably the worst sta
tistics in regard TO the consumption Of alcoholic
liquors. In less than half century the use of
In that country, while the population has only
advanced from $4,000 to 5,oUo,0OO. The
Use of spirits increased GO per cent between
1851 and 1881, and OF beer increased during
the same period 3. ID per cent. The consump-
ton OF spirits, wine, and beer tor 1881
the country is so small it contained in 1880 no
fewer than 10000 places devoted to the sale
OF intoxicating liquors. There was a public
up males. The suicides rose from 81 per
100000 Inhabitants in 1913 to 80 in 1880.
The lunatics advanced from go per 1000, 900
inhabitants in 1876 to ,47O in 1881. The in
spector general of Belgian prisons reports that
lour.ffths OF tue crime and SOCIAL misery during
the last quarter of a century has been directly
attributable to intemperance.
In France the sad effects of drunkenness
once witnessed have been considerably iessened
by the passing of a salutary act. In 1875 tae
numbers punished for open drunkenness was
$4,000, but by 1880 they had fallen to 1000.
switzerland exhibits unsatisfactory In
crease in the drink traffic. Between 1870 and
1850 the population advanced 6.5 per cent,but
ID public houses Increased by a. much as %
per cent. Austria furnishes a similar condition
Outings. In 1880 there were in Vienna alone
1924 drink houses, and q, lob persons were in
that year arrested for being drunk. The hos
pitalss lunatic asyiums, aud prisons of the
country all testify to the advance OF drinking
habits. It Is suggested that the clergy, medical
men, and schoolnasters Of every nation could
do much to mitigate this evil If their ssmpa-
thies could be thoroughly reused. Continental
workmen generally spend a large proportion OF
their earnings in drink without becoming or
being claSSed as absolute drunk ards