The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1900-11-18
HIGH PRICES OF DRINKS AND
THE EFFECT ON DRUNKEN

NESS.
In discussing the deaths Of the Portu-
zuese on Punchbowl and other recent
deaths due 10 adulterated wines and liq-
uors, especially swipes, an evening con
( temporary says:
To what does this point: \ cain and
| careful consideration would say that these
people finding that ordinary drink is too
/ expensive for their purses. brew material
which must be terribly deleterious to their
/ stomachs when taken in small quantities.
and deadly when taken in large doses
/ To prohibit the sale Of liquor altogether
would not put a stop tC all this Illicit
/ brewing. however much it might put
stop TO the consumption of liquor in other
/ directions. There are two remedies which
could be used-one, the Gothenberg sys-
ten. which has answered so well in Swe-
den and the working of which has been
/ explained in the local press again and
( again. The other the extension of the
wine and beer license into town. Both
would require legislation and both would
meet with strong opposition from the sa-
! loon keepers
The Republican agrees with its con-
temporary that the liquor monopoly in
! Honolulu under which excessive charges
are made for light wine and beer operates
/ against temperance and morality rather
than in favor of it. Opposition to the
present system. however. by which light
wire and beer licenses would be granted.
would not come solely froY the saloon
keepers. In fact we believe the greatest
opposition would come from those imprac-
teal people who blindly declare that pro-
hibition is the only means to check the
evils resulting from the use of liquor.
California wine is not so cheap as has
been said by an evening paper. the lowest
price in the vineyards for wine that is fit
to ship at the present time being "a to -
cents per gallon. \ few years ago it did
go down as low as Il to Is cents per gal !
lon but il has advanced since TO the |
higher figures. But even at the highest |
figures given. wine houses such as the /
Portuguese are accustomed TO in their |
home country can sell glass of wine for |
FIVE cents.
Better still. however. would be the in 1
PRODUCTION of fve-cent beer as a pre- /
ventive of the use of Swines aud doe
tored wine. Beer is not highly intoxi-
eating liquor. In fact pure beer scarcely /
intoxicates at all. unless one endeavors
to make n human tank of his system
Careful observation in prohibition COM
or communities like that of Ho-
nolulu. where such 4 beverage rs beer is
made prohihitive. by high prices. for the
poor man and the laboring man. leads to
unlimited drinking of the viles5 conecc-
tions and an undue amount of drunken
ness.
In saying this The Republican is in no
wise making plea for a wide open
town" 1t is opposed TO the liquor bust
ness. per sc. and il il had the power
would absolutely prevent the manufacture
and sale of all intoxicating liquors. But +;
since such thing is impossible. the next '
best movement is 10 lessen the evils of |
drunkenness as much as possible. To 4
,reste monopoly whereby only the man
who can afford 10 pay the exerbitant
price of twenty-five cents for a glass of {
wine or beer can buy il. is unjust TO the Is
aborer who works for small wages. The lo
aborer likes glass of beer OF wine oc. 4
,asioually as well as his richer and more i
ortunate neighbor. and when the price is
made prOhihitive TO him he will very nat
irally seek his drinks at speak easys and
wipe joints. and knowing that he can
lot buy openly. will drink his fill while
'eout it much TO his damage. In other e
words, II be had the privilege of buying r
ms glass of beer at moderate price and v
n 4 reputable public house. as have work n
rs in the States and in Europe he would a
axe reasonable amount and 90 home C
moving he could get more whenever he q
esired. and nor have 10 hide away in e
ark places. like thief in tie night. a
fhen be wanted a drink. Z,
The number of cases Of drunkenness q
a Honolulu IS unduly large in proportion Il
, the population. just as il is in every b
'wn where the restrictions are such that {,
aey lean over backwards in their efforts ii
suppress an evil that can never be sup ii
ressed: that can only be regulated. IN
This is readily shown by the reports of q
le labor bureau of the United States for "
'rtain western cities. iusr made public.
opeka. Kansas: Dubuque and Daven- VI
'rt. Iowa. and Quincy. Illinois. are all nj
estern cities of about the sane size. To- W
ks having population Of s3.eoS Du- be
Ique 1927. Davenport 35.25i. and of
aincy 36.2S2 Topeka is in a prohi- NJ
ton state and has no saloons. yet the bu
port for the fiscal year ending June re
{, 1900. shows the number of arrests to Al
as follex1 49, drunkenness, PIT dis 20