The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-05-27
THE COST OF BEVERAGES.
United states Spends Over a Billion
Dollars Year.

DOIIurs ear
Statistics on this subject bear SO
closely on the social customs and prog
ress of people that they are scanned
with interest in all civilized countries,
says the St. Louis Republic. No two
races choose the same beverages in the
same proportion. What the laws are,
underlying this fact, is not yet accu-
rately known. Climate is factor, and
so are habits, occupations and tempera-
ment. The people of this country con-
sumo their share of beverages. One
of the best trade publications gives the
latest figures of our annual drink bill.
Last year it amounted in the aggregate,
for alcoholic and non-alcoholic bever-
ages, to $1O1G, 1891 OO, or $14.31 per cit
i4en. Hard times cut down the con-
sumption somewhat, especially that of
spirits. But the footings of the various
! items indicate that the average Amer
lean is not accustomed to restrict him
self to water in the choice of bever-
ages.
The population of the United States
| in 1896 was estimated at71, 2G3, 900. Spir-
! its were consumed TO the amount of H.
| C51 SIT gallons, but deduction must be
made of 100000 gallons employed IN
| the arts. A barrOom makes 60 drinks
| out of a gallon, receiving for them not
| less than $3.50. The total consumption
of beer in 1896 was 1850, 626, 165 gallons
on which the government revenue was
| $33.139.l41. Consumers paid for beer
$541, 1863, 348 One of the peculiarities
| of Americans is that they care little for
wines. Ir 1887 our production of wine
was 27,7O6,OOO gallons and the importa-
ton was 4,G1S,0OO gallons. There was a
large falling off in 1896. Only 1850, 000
| gallons of domestic wines were made,
and the foreign wines imported amount-
ed to 4. 1O1, GOO gallons. The cost of wines
to the consumers in 1896 was $40, 100000,
and Of alcoholic beverages 1851, 500, S32.
In 1892 the national drink bill was
larger than that by S14O, O0O, 900, and this
may be taken as one of the gauges of
the period of business depression
through which this country has been
passing for several years.
1t is well known that Americans are
great consumers Of coffee. They drank
in 1896 no less than 9G2, OSS, COZ gallons
made from 4S1,044 ,346 pounds Of the
berries, and costing $3.50, 261 ,0S6. Even
| in this item hard times cut down the
average consumption from 9.G1 pounds
in 1892 to S.O4 pounds in 1896. Tea last
year was used to the amount of AGO.
| 7O1 900 gallons, made from 93,340, 900
pounds of tea, at retail cost of $31, Ill
4S2. Cocoa is comparatively small
item, the whole amount used for bever-
ages and confectionery costing only
81 $50 800. One fact that comes out dis
tinctly in these annual statistics is that
Americans drink less spirits than for
merry. They spent S270,OOO,o0 for spir-
its in 1896, against S4O0,00O,OOO in 1893
While there was a large decrease also
in the consumption of wines, the de-
mand for malt liquors increased. The
tendency in America is distinctly away
from alcohol as beverage. Even wines
seem to be too heady for the American
taste. A decrease Of 80 per cent. in the
average consumption Of spirits in four
years is a notable and significant
| change