The record-union., 1895-04-15
CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.
Vast Quantities of Liquor Drunk in
This Country and England.
Yearly Drink Bills of Europe, the
United States, Canada and
Australia.

A popularity of alcohol is that in all
ages in almost all countries it has found
many votaries. In some shape or another
alcohol is used by nearly all classes in all
parts of the civilized world, and there
seems to be no limit to the quantity that
can be got through, only given the means
to purchase it.
Recent official calculations, says Lon
don Journal, show that in the United
States the consum ption of distilled spirits
fell from S0,000,000 gallons in 1870 to
4 76,00O,OOO in 1888, in spite of an increase
OF 2O,0OO,O0O in the population, and still
greater proportionate increase in the ma
tlonaI wealth; but the consumption of
wine rose from 100000 gallons in 1870
TO 50, 000, GOO in 1888; and of malt LIQUOR
from zO5,00O.OOO gallons in 1870 to 767,
OOO,OO in 1855. From this it would ap-
pear that very remarkable change is
going on IN the habits of the people, and
lhat whilst the consumption of spirits is
decreasing, that of wine and beer is
| largely on the increase. The greater
wealth of the States accounts for the
| larger consumption of wine the most
costly of all alcoholic beverages in cold
countries. In France the consumption of
spirits has greatly increased since 1871.
In England there was, for few years,
thanks perhaps in part to Sir Benjamin
Richardson marked decrease in the
outlay on all sorts of ofintoxicating liquors,
but the last few years have again shown
an increase.
In Germany the use of spirits is sta
tionary but that of beer has increased,
and possibly the larger consumption of
beer IN tue United States may be mainly
due to the immense number of Germans
tl,l
OF making any comparison between
country and country, and class and
class, Is due to every nation having in
toXlcatlng beverages to which it is ad-
dlcted, and these differ greatly in their
percentage Of alcohol. The annual con-
sumption Of wine In the whole OF Europe
is 1891, 100000 gallons; of beer and cider
Z,9I5,OOO,OO0; OF spirits, 81, 100000. This
Is equal to the consumption OF 523, 900, 600
gallons OF alcohol, or one and six-tenths
gallon per head. The amount consumed
IN the Cnited States is equivalent TO one
and two-tenths gallon; in Canada, to one
gallon, and in Australia 70 one and two
tenths gallon per head. These figures
are curious and suggestive.
In explanation OF the large consuunp-
ton Of alcohol in France, II might be
argued, if we did not know in other
ways that there had been an enormous
increase in the consumption of intoxi-
/
at meals, whereas tea, coffee and other
liquids are taken in many other coun-
tries. The french dram shops have enor-
mously increased IN number, and insan-
ity and intemperancs have increased
with them, and French writers are recog-
nizing the dangers that threaten their
fatherIand. These facts throw a lurid
light on the fSllacious reports so gener-
ally circulated as TO the sobriety of wine
drinking countries, unless we assume as
perhaps we are justified in doing, that in
wlne-drlnking countries total abstinence
is almost unheard OF, all grown up people
drinking moderately, while in England
we have millions OF practical abstainers
to set against vast army of Incorporate
men and women.
The economic aspect is no less import
ant. Mir. Mulhall gives some compare
tive information, but as he reckons only
the cost lin bond" exclusive of the
duties which in England, Tor instance.
are very high, and make the national
drink bill look very large, his estimate
VERY much understates the amount ac-
tually paid by the consumer, who in the
United Kingdom contributes $4,000 900 a
year to the revenue.
The conditions are so diverse in thess
countries that any useful comparison is
impossible, but we have significant fact
when we compare the two great branch
OF the Anglo-Saxon race. The Briton is
said TO spend twice as much on alcohol as
the American; this may be accurate
though most travellers would fancy, and
perhaps correctly, that the latter drinks
as freely as the former, and in some dis
trIcts much more freely. This apparent
contradiction may be due to the lower
price of stimulants or to systematic
evasion OF duty in the States.
The yearly drink bills of Europe. the
United States, Canada and Australia are
reckoned to be as follows, though the
figures are probably not mathematicalIy
accurate ana can only be the rudest ap-
proximation: For 2OI7, ,OOO 600 gal
gallons of wine, 9l67, 900, 600; for
3,6S4, ,O0O, ,OOO gallons of beer, cider and
perry, &24O, ,OO0, 900; for 100000, 900 gallons
OF spirits, 9S5. 100000. The cost of intoxf-
cants in these countries may therefore be
estimated at the lowest to reach e492-
900.
But even within the United Kingdom
there are remarkable differences. as NAV
be seen by comparing the figures of 1885
when the consumption of beer in Eng
land was thirty-two gallons per head. in
Scotland sixteen and in Ireland sixteen.
the consumption of cider in England Q. 4.
and none at all in the other two countries:
the consumption of spirits in England
0.8, in Scotland l.9, in ireland |: the CON
sumption OF wine 0.5 in England. 0. 3 in
Scotland and o. in Ireland. The English
drinkers partiality for beer and the
Scotch and Irish drinkers preference for
spirits is clearly shown. When these
amounts are converted into their equiva-
lents OF alcohol we see that Ireland con-
sumes least-1.4 gallons per head, Scot
land comes next with I.6, and Eng
land heads the list with 213 gallons of
alcohol for each man, woman and child of
the population; this, by a curious and
Undersigned coincidence, is just under one
ounce day per head, the quantity which
so many medical authorities assume can
ce safely taken-the physiological guam
tity of which the country has heard SO
much of late years. Children seldom
touch alcohol, most women take little.
and many men do not take any at all; so
that the habitual consumers of alcohol,
whether they drink to excess or not, get
through three or four times the amount
which the leading medical authorities
assert should not be exceeded.
THE TRAINED TURKEY.