The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-29

NEHgNOTHS
NE2AA-
S0BRIETY IN GREAT BRITAIN
United Kingdom More Temperate
Now Than Ever Before, Says
Alliance Secretary.

The amount of beer and spirits con
sumed in the United Kingdom during
1908 is very much less than the
years. In fact, Great Britain is more
temperate now than she has ever
been, declares Secretary George B..
Wilson of the United Kingdom Tenn
perance Alliance. In his report. re-
GENTLY issued in the London press. he
estimates that the total expenditure on
all alcoholic liquor consumed in he
:hree kingdoms last year amounted to
f155.1 1872 ASS. as compared with 9161.-
o60,4S2 in 1908.
There has therefore been a material
decrease of s5.S97.997 during the past
.~welvemonth.
On spirits the decrease vas s4,S00.-
900, with a decrease in consumption
Of 7,022.7 Z gallons. On beer the de-
eas was 91,1S6,000 with decrease
IN, consumption of 645,396 barrels. On
wines, on the other hand, there has
peer an increase of $4,000. with an
Increase in consumption of 1o3. 744 gal
Ions.
But. as the secretary's report points
out, the amount spent on drink as a
comparison. fails to picture the true
decrease in drinking. Owing to the
increased taxes of 1909. the retail
price of all liquors advanced. and
hence If the prices of 1903 were the
same as the prices of 1908. the de-
cas- in the amount spent would be
double what it is. II there had been
no increase in prices the actual reduc-
ton on the total expenditure would
have been a11,147, 997.
London press reports state unhesi
'tatingly that the British people have
been growing more temperate Of late
years. and claim that the experience
Of last year leaves no doubt that tax
alton Is one great influence In reduc-
ing the consumption of liquor. 1t is
further added that "if this reduction
were to be progressively maintained
we would soon have no drink bill to
pay at ALL"
The increased taxes applied on liQ-
uors by the budget have been q fac
tor of the recorded decrease In con-
sumption. but it is probably not the
only potent factor, and 1t Is contended
that q marked change In the social
habits of the people is a feature since
the masses are being given opportuni-
ties for developing other tastes. In
| this education Is the great agent and
1t is confidently stated that "the turn
of the tide synchronises with the COM
ing of a full generation which has
been to school. The book Is n OF
| the enemies of the bar. There are
| others. Every park is al alternative.
every tram or cheap train, that takes
| the worker out to the country In his
spare time, every slum that disap-
| pears, and every livable house that
| takes its place. The empire Of alco-
| hol rests not so much on its own In
| herent attractiveness as upon the abb
| sence of rival attractions. These
| rivals are growing and before them
alcohol is slowly perhaps, but surely
| retiring from public favor"
In a country which has SO long
| been burdened by the drink evil the
| progress Of reform Is slow. but there
is progress recorded In Great Britain
as the above figures show. The drink
| question is still one of the most i'm
portant social problems the nation has
to face. yet the recent constant de-
| cline In the consumption is regarded
as extremely hopeful.