The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-05-18
ALCOHOL A LA SWISS.
RESULTS OF SIX YEARS OPERATION
OF Ti4E nONOPOLY PLAN.

what similar Methods Are Proposed
Parts of This Country.
The particular method of dealing vii
he alcohol question which is now alop
ed III Switzerland is discussed by Mr.. "
Milliet of Iicrne in IA recent uuhlieatio
IF the American Academy Of Politica
and Social Science.
There is. 1t seems. no appreciable cur
rent Of opinion among the Swiss in favo
Of total abstinence. considered either a
q voluntary act or as the outcome o
prohibitory legislation. 1t is true tina
by an amendment of the federal consti
tuition passed in 1885 the cantonal leg
lslatures acquired the power of restrict
ing the number of places for the sale o
liquor within their respective jurisdic
tons. The power has ostensibly beer
exercised in II cantons, but even il
these, taken as a whole, the number O
taverns has somewhat increased.
No substantial result. therefore, has
followed til. concession Of restrictive
power. Suc!, is not the case with the
alcohol monopoly introduced in 1887.
This has accomplished two things. II
has greatly improved the quality of the
distilled liquors consumed in Switzer
land. and has caused a marked reduction
IN the use of them. The primary aim of
the monopoly was 10 bring about the
substitution of fer,nented for distilled
liquors, and .lort as is The period dur
ing which tn experiment has lasted the
results are eelnouraging,
Before thu creation of the alcohol mo-
noroly. Switzerland suffered from the
practise Of peddling distilled liquors
an from the existence of Il multitude
OF shall stills in agricultural districts.
The product Of these stills. by reason of
HE j.. utit1ve methods Of manufacture
and the absence of r~ectitication, was ex-
cluded from the general market and
was consequently consumed by the peas
ant distlllers themselves. The effect of
these small stills was to make the daily
drinking Of "schnapps." as the domestic
raw liquor is called. almost universe,
among farmers and agricultural labor
ers. 1t was the alarming spread Of alco-
holism that ensued which brought about
the change III the federal constitution
whereby limited rights of interference
with the liquor traffic We're granted to
the authorities. both federal and can
tonal.
Since the creation of the alcohol mo
nopoly, l.iW large and small distilleries
have peel suppressed by appropriation.
From the remaining g. or 20 distilleries,
monopoly administration is the only
purchaser. The product does not go d.
rectly from distiller to purchaser. The
administration takes it under fixed con
iitions and brings it back to the trade
only after it has been duly rectitied. OF
he profits of the monopoly. one-tenth,
low amounting to aboE: $40. 900 a year.
nut be applied to the struggle with al
'oholism-that is to say, to the mainte-
nance of the poor and the insane whose
nlsfortunes may be traced to that NAL
ldy.
Now as to the effect OF the monopoly
N the quantity OF spirits consumed. r.
$50 the consumption of distilled liquors
yer capita was 1926 ~liters: in 1891 it Wa.
My G.3e. \ part of this decrease is du,
o the cessation Of smuggling of distilled
from Switzerland into the adm
countries. But after reasonable de-
motions On that score have been made.
t Is estimated that the shrinkage in ne
sc OF ardent spirits by the Swiss them
elves is not less than % per cent. Tha
ecreased consumption is obviously due
OF only to the extinction Of prisa.
tiils. but TO the fact that a higher priea
be paid for the product of diai.:.
The joint eject of diminist.ai
assumption and Of the greatly improved
of the liquors sold is expected
BON to show itself in the statistics of al
oholism.
We have said that the purpose of tine
wiss Legislature was not to abolish the
Sc of distilled liquors, but gradually to
Ipplant it by that of wine or beer. To
lat end, while the price of spirits was
Used, that of fermented liquors was
'wered by relieving them from certain
Iclse duties. So far as wine is con-
no marked change took place in .
le volume of consumption between 1885 J,
1890. This is attributed, however, /.
the remarkable decline of the home
reduction in the period named, a de- !
inc which had to be made good by I'M
,
In the cas- OF beer. on the other hand, a
70 effect Of the liquor monopoly on the =
bits OF h Swiss people Is unmistak-
Die. The consumption of beer in Swift !,
rland increased between 1855 and 1890 E
ON 80 liters per capita to Al liters, 1
a advance of some g per cent. Il
far as the Swiss experiment has gone,
seems to show the possibility of sup
to a considerable extent the use
ardent spirits by that of those fer
liquors, such as beer, which con-
in /. relatively little alcohol. New =
crk Sun.