The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-20
BARROOMS ~ NORWAY.
The working of WHAT Is Known as tho
Gothenburg system


The Working of WHAT Is Known as tho
Gothenburg system.
DIR. MoXom explained the Gothenburo
or Norwegian system in detail, giving as
its vital principle that the state shall
make the liquor business an absolute
monopoly and put ii into the control of
responsible men, whose motive is to re-
duce, instead of increase, the per capita
consumption. The effect is also to re-
| duce the number of saloons to a marked
| degree. The profits accrue, says the
| Springfield Republican, not to the COM
pany, but to the people, in the shape of
public institutions, amusement halls, etc.
II saw something of the workings of the
system in Sweden and Norway" said DIR,
| MoXom. II visited more saloons last
summer than | had seen before in my
life. l examined the liquors carefully,
found out what kinds were sold, and how
many glasses a man can buy. In Bergen
there are in the neIGhborhood of a dozen
places where liquor is sold by the glass or
bottle. Each is a plain room, perfectly
clean, without even a picture on the wall
There is not even a chair in the room. ex-
cept a stool behind the counter for the
official in charge. lie is a respectable
man, probably a member of the church.
On the walls are printed the rules of the
company, which all must obey. If a man
asks for aqua vita he lays down his
con-there is no credit-and pure, un-
drugged spirit is poured out for him. He
is not allowed TO remain in the room, and
If he wants another glass he is told to
come back in three hours. The glass is
so small that he might take a glass every
three hours in the day and not get drunk
4 work lnunnn taE r,i,, 4,
way to work, for the saloons do not open
till s, nor at noon, for the saloons close
from II TO l 30 o'clock. The hour for
closing in winter is : 80 and in summer 8
O'Clock. The day before holiday they
close At noon, and they are closed before
the worklngmen are paid off.
mo man can make cent from tho
business. The man behind the couater is
employed for his personal character. He
gets fairly good salary, but not a cent
from the business. If he deviates from
the rules of the company he is bounced al
once. He is promoted for making as
small sales as possible. The policy of
the whole system is TO crowl down the
consumption of alcohol. In 1876 the per
capita consumption was 3.s quarts : In
1882 1t was reduced TO 3.3 quarts Norway
and sweden were the most drunken
countries in Europe; now Norway is three
times as sober as the United States. Its
the exact reverse of the license system. I'M
der which the licensed dealers stimulate
trade as much as possible to get back the
money they have paid for their licenses. |
think 1t would be better TO have free
whlskey than such licenses as We have in
American cities. The difference between
that and this IS as great AZ the difference
between DAY and night The Norwegian
system eliminates politics entirely. Ii has
been argued that II makes drunkenness
respectable. but its effect has been to eIs-
vate the public spirit and array It arain.t
drunkenness. The system has been
recognized as working against the mon
sjcr Of drink, and II has become less re-
spectacle 10 patronIze a saloon.
MANY people maintain" Or. MoNom
continued. M taking up the objections |
presented, THAT having anything To do |
with liquor in any way Is n sin. The DO.