Evening star., 1897-01-02
THE RUSSIAN LIQUOR MONOPOLY.
no" the Cars Government Runs the
Liquor Busfness

From the Boston Herald
In tie Official bulletin of statistics of the
empire of the car there has just been pub
hshed an outline of the first results of the
creation tf the liquor monopoly in the four
governments of Perm, Ocfa. Samara and
orenboorg-agriculturaI provinces Of east
Russla having population of about L.
Wo" Here the government took the
nquor business into its own hands on the
ISL OF January. 1875. The average annual
consumption of the preceding four wears
had been about 3,245.OOO, or a little over
three gallons per head of the population.
In the last twenty-five years consumption
IN the United States has never exceeded
lol gallons per head and the average has
been about LIB, so that compared with the
east Russians we must pass for a very
temperate people. 1t was the benevolent
purpose OF the government In organizing
the monopoly in spirits to satisfy the thirst
OF its subjects with better liquor than they
mad been drinking. and to place the sale of
IL In more respectable hands 1t Ia said
that vile as is the liquor usually dispensed
in the dram shops of agricultural Russia
the people who sell 1t are of character
still more vile.
Under the old system, the internal reve-
nue. tax or excise duty on spirits was 81 per
gallon, and the average annual revenue de-
rived from this source in the four provinces
In question was s6.50OGU In the first wear
OF the application of the system of govern
ment monopoly the income was 50 900
mis- Is good deal more than was expect
ed. TO: the primary purpose of the monou-
oily was not to make an immediate AID
direct addition to the revenue but to use
1t as means to accomplish certain social
reforms. 1t was intended to exclude from
consumption all unrectified spirits to SUD-
press the giving of credit to the purchasers
OF alcoholic beverages, to appropriate the
whole tribe OF keepers of country drinking
shops, and to reduce the number of bar
rooms In the towns. The government was
prepared for a considerable reduction in
the amount of liquor consumed and there
fore 1t made the price high enough to cover
by an ample margin Of profit the proba BILE
shrinkage In revenue. In short, the price
had been SO adjusted that consumption
might remain stationary, and even be re-
dueed' without affecting the receipts for
which the tax on alcohol used to figure
AS the price to the purchaser of half a mint
is In exact proportion to the price charged
the purchaser of five gallons, 1t may be in
quantity who suffers under the regime of
government monopoly, while the purchaser
at retail gets his tipple somewhat cheaper
than he did before.
This latter fact may have had Something
to do with the apparent increase of con-
sumption In the four provinces selected for
the first trial of the monopoly. The official
bulletin does not give any returns of the
amount consumed, but 1t Is safe to infer
that an increase of 80 per cent in the reye-
nus means considerable increase in the
amount OF spirits imbibed. The drinking
shops and their highly Objectionable keep
ers have been abolished. for the govern
ment sells only by the flask. and allows no
corks to be drawn on the premises, but the
drinking habits Of the people evidently re-
main unimpaired. The result is curious
| and students Of sociology will watch with
| Interest the further development of the
system. Meanwhile. 1t may be noted that
been led to believe was hopelessly corrupt
and incapable. has been able to accomplish
what the state Of South Carolina has es-
| sayed In vain-the getting Of fairly hon
est accounting from those whom It en-
ployed to superintend the state monopoly
| in liquor. On the LIST of July last the Rus
sian system was further extended to an
| Of about 20 900. and by July next It viii
] comprehend shout half the population OF
the European division OF the empire.