The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-08-31
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ALCOHOLIC PERIL OF FRANCE
Drink Evils Deadly Work In Provinces
--Absinth Taking Flrmer Hold Of
People Every Year.

People Every Year.
One OF NJ. Rouvier's measures for
making up the budgetary deficit with
which he was faced IL n proposal TO
suppress the privilege accorded TO pri.
vate distillers. who In provincial
France still provide a good deal OF the
alcohol which under various names
the rural population consumes In large
quantities M Rouvier's proposals
will In all probability become n law.
and the private distillers will be sup
pressed. But the Temps points out
that. though the French treasury may
expect its revenue TO increase by such I
n measure. since the private distiliery
had no duty to pay. yet there are 9th
or reasons which initiate against the
adoption OF this proposal and which
the Temps unites under the head OF
The Alcoholic Peril" II says that
the French countryman will certainly
not modify his drinking habits any
more than he can alter his Inevitable
parsimonious character Under the
old regime he at all events drank
good spirits, whereas under the new
regime. though the spirits may have
come from the licensed distiller. II is
OF such a character that It's effect
upon the health OF the inhabitants 10
most disastrous.
In Normandy. says the Temps. every
one who is not absolutely beggar at
noon takes cup OF coffee freely d.
luted with cider brandy This cider
brandy costs the private distiller from
a franc and half 20 two francs per
liter. and yet in towns spirit which
has paid duty both TO the government
and TO the local authorities can be
purchased for a franc a liter. The
Temps admits that this concoction
may be a marvel OF chemical science.
but It's moral and physical effect upon
the consumers Is disastrous. Taking
the town OF Caen. in Normandy. as an .
instance. this journal says that before
the law making the drink trade FREQ
was passed there were 200 cabareis.
or about one for every $50 inhabitants.
whereas today there are nearly SEQ
such establishments. or one for every
20 Inhabitants The trade. however.
Is prosperous, for whereas In 1889 the
town dues paid on alcohol amounted
TO $4,000 francs they have now In.
creased to 49,. 900 francs, or &C per
cent per annum. Tue population OF
the country. however. is on the de
crease. Last year in the calvados de-
partment there were l.223 more
deaths than births. Crime and theft
are on the Increase. as in 1890 the cor
regional tribunals registered 1858
convictions. whereas last year they
noted 4.i49
The drink question. this journal
thinks is not only fiscal one, but one
OF national interest. and instead of en-
deayoring TO realize the greatest pos
sible financial profit from It the Temps
thinks that the production and CON
sumption OF natural and hygienic
drinks should be favored. while the
manufacture OF spirits. the basis OF
which is badly rectified alcohol. should
be watched over and hindered in order
TO combat that which constitutes a
social and national danger.
The drink beloved Of the modern
Frenchman has had the misfortune to
attract attention itself. and the eye
OF the political economist has fallen
upon II unfavorably. The French
budget has need Of several millions OF
francs II II is 10 approximate TO a
balance. and the amateur tax collect
ors. who presumably do not drink alb
Ginfla hayn Oh e.. ~
minister that he cannot do better than
put tax upon the liquid Il Is point
ed out that absinthe pays no special
duty and is only taxed on the amount
Of alcohol in IT, The strongest absinthe
Is nve times as deleterious as ordi-
nary brandy: the weakest. that which
is sold in the drinking shops. is twice
or two and half times as poisonous
as the brandy sold In the same places.
The argument therefore Is that taking
three times as the average the duty
on absinthe ought 10 be three times
as high as II is. and so the hectoliter
ought to pay duty OF $50 francs in
stead OF only 220 francs. The adyo-
Gates OF this Increased tax point out
that absinthe is only very rarely OF
use incidentally. but that its daily con
sumption destroys the nervous system
and brings on epilepsy. paralysis and
madness. Every year more OF the
stun Is drunk in France. and Il is
stated that to its use is due the great
mortality from consumption In the
French army. II is agreed that alb.
sinthe Is poisonous and that tho
finances OF France want a new and
productive tax, but II 10 doubtful
whether any minister will have the
courage TO propose such far.reaching
innovation.