Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-02
A RAPTUROUS DRINK
Is That Called Uno, Which Maine
People Daily Indulge In.
A CHEAP IMITATION OF LAGER.
Mixed With Whisky, 1t Is Warranted to
Produce Big Results.
PROHIBITION FIGHT ON THE STUFF

PORTLAND, Me, Aug. 1.-The decision
of Judge Gould, of the Municipal Court,
that the "Uno' beer, so-called, which is now
widely sold in Maine, was not intoxicating,
at least so far as the samples in the case
before him went, was received with great
interest throughout the State.
The man whose beer was seized was poor
man, but D. F. Murdock backed him and
secured him good counsel and expert testi-
mony. Two Bowdoin professors disagreed
as to whether or not the stuff was intoxi-
eating. 1t is very poor stuff, but, as it
comes nearer to being beer than anything
else which is permitted to be sold here, the
case becomes interesting.
CHEAP LAGER IMITATION.
"Uno" is cheap imitation of lager, and
is said to contain trifie more than 2 per
cent of alcohol. tt tastes like a fat and
diluted lager, but it is Just as obnoxious to
the prohibitionists as if it was Intoxicating.
Those who should know laugh at the idea
that man could drink enough of it to affect
him, except as an equal amount of dirty
water might. This was the statement of a
police officer this afternoon, who said:
81 have known a number of men to say
they got drunk on "Uno," but never knew
one who did. Of course, if a man has taken
half dozen glasses of whisky, or of ''split, ="
which is quite fashionable drink now, two
or three bottles of the lightest beer added
will help to upset him, but the beer alone
cannot do it. This seems to be the gen.
eral opinion.
PAYING A BEER TAX.
The keepers of restaurants and of ice
cream saloons, as well as the people who
sold lager and hard stuff, have been in some
doubt as to taking out United States tax re-
ceipts for malt liquor selling because they
sold this beer, but they seem to have de-
cided now that this is the safe course for
them to take.
United States Internal Revenue Collector
Stearns has had number of applications,
and has issued the stamps securing the
holder. so far as the United States Govern
ment is concerned Here is an apparent
conflict of laws. The applicants ask only
for permission to sell 'fUno," but the Gov
eminent recognizes no special grades and
the malt liquor tax is collected, as the de-
partment has held that malt or any substi-
tute for malt makes the liquor come under
the meaning of the United States statutes
Grape sugar is used in the manufacture of
''Uno" beer, and the chemical action of
grape sugar is exactly the same as that of
malt.
DRUNK FOR A WEEK.
City Marshal Minot was asked for his
opinion regarding the intoxicating qualities
of "Uno" beer He said:
81 don't believe man can hold enough of
that alone to get drunk. Perhaps he might
be little affected. But give him glass of
whisky to go with it and he will stay drunk
week. Our experience proves that is the
way they do it, for most of our drunks have
had this 'Uno' beer with hard cider,
whisky, or something to make up what the
beer itself lacks in alcohol. It's my opinion
that 'Uno' beer is doing more harm here
than all the hard stuff sold in Bath at this
time.
'They take it because they think they
can get befuddled with it, and for no other
reason, and there's where it does its harm,
for it is sold openly to boys as well as men,
We think they are making little milder
article now than they did at first, but in my
opinion it should be treated just like other
drinks" -