The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-10-14

In cothenburg the Profits From
Drink are Given to Charity.

In cothenburg the Profits From
Drink are Given to Charity.
Gothenburg, Sweden Gothenburg
is best known to the world a. the
city where new and novel system Of
regulating the liquor traffic was in.
troduced many years ago The prin-
ciple Of the "Gothenburg system, so
called is to intrust the liquor trade
to the hands Of persons who will en-
deavor to make it a benefit instead of
a curse to the public. In 1885 com
pany of benevolent men was organized
and obtained a monopoly of the traffic
in distilled liquors, guaranteeing 70
sell nothing but pure liquor and to
give all the profits to charity. They
established agencies in different parts
Of Gothenburg. where whisky, brandy,
rum. gin and arrac punch, which may
be called the national drink of Swe-
den, are sold by the bottle at a slight
advance over the cost, not to be con
sumed upon the premises. other
agencies were established for the al
legged benefit of the working classes
in different parts of the city, where
one drink OF liquor is sold to a Gus
toner and no more. He may go
from one agency to another Ca con-
siderable distance), and then to
third if his thirst is not satisfied, but
no one is allowed to drink twice in
the same place. The bottle trade is
carried on between a. m. and Z p.
m. on week days; the retail trade
between 8 a. m. and 10 p. m. On
Sundays, holidays and Saturday af-
ternons every place is closed, Tor the
latter is the time that the factory op-
erativeo and laborers are usually paid
off. Therefore, people who want liz
uor on holidays or Sundays-and il
seems to be plentiful on those occa-
sions-must buy It in bulk on the
previous day The amount Of liquor
allowed to a single person Is left to
the judgment of the agent A half
pint is the smallest quantity sold at
the wholesale shops. At the large
cafes and hotels in Gothenburg brandy
schnapps and punch are served free
with meals, being bought in bulk at
the agencies because the law does not
permit them to be sold. The sale of
beer is free everywhere. There is no
restriction on quantity, although the
health authorities have rigid regula-
tions against adulteration.
There is still considerable contro-
versy as to the moral effect, of the
'Gothenburg system, but the fact that
It has been adopted by seventy-four
of the ninety-four incorporated towns
in Sweden may be considered evi-
dence that 1t is approved by public
sentiment. / have been collecting in
formation and testimony on both sides
but am not yet prepared to make a
report. It should be said. however, in
this connection tb at the consumption
of liquor has very largely diminished
in Sweden within the last twenty-five
years and that there has been cor
responding decrease in crime and
poverty. The convictions for crime
by the courts during the period from
1861 to 1860. preceding the adoption
of the Gothenburg system, averaged
SO per 100000 inhabitants annually.
The per centage for the last Ave years
from 1895 to 1900 was 81 per 100000
inhabitants and the actual decrease
is much greater than these figures
show because the courts are more Sc
we're in their judgment; the police are
more vigilant in the suppression of
crime ana in making arrests, and the
statistics are more accurately kept.