The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-10-22
Prohibition II, S,Ueden

in the war. Sweden is one OF the neutralS Whlc
has taken to heart of the great lessons OF tn
conflict, that a sober nation is best prepared t
defend itself and is better off without drunkenness
in peace as we'll as in war.
Although nothing so drastic as the prohibition
measures of Russia has been attempted in Sweder
there has been, since the beginning OF the war
steady and systematic curtailment in the sale O
| liquor, which is approvingly regarded by temper
I nce advocates as a decided step toward absolut
lprohibition The Stockholm system" of allow
ling each citizen only fixed quantity Of sprituou
drink, which was :naugurated just after the wa
started has now been extended TO thirty-one O
the hundred districts in Sweden, and according t
government order recently issued, will, after tn
! first of January, 1916, apply to the whole @
| Sweden. y
| = The "Stockholm system" which allows ever
citizen in good standing 10 the city to become
moderate drnker while effectively preventing hir
from becoming drunkard, was ingeniously devils
| ed by Dr. Ivan Bratt present director of the sys
tenn after all other expedients had failed. DOCtO
| Bratt has been Landed, condemned, ,rSolized an
i,ridiculed, and his work has become the theme c
almost daily discussion in the newspapers of>Swe
den some of which criticise him for being too MOD
crate and others too extreme in his reforms. BIT
on one point all are agreed, The system works
! In the first place, the liquor companies, Will
directed by private individuals were PRACTICAL
made government concerns, for all profits were t
| 90 to the government. This removed any incer
tive on the part of the directors to over-produc
Ition 1t was followed by a careful supervision c
the supply of liquor furnished to hotels, restau
rants and public bars. These places still had
| right to as much liquor they required, but the
were only allowed profit on a reasonable amour
of trade If they did business in excess of tina
amount fixed by the government, they had to pur
chase this additional supply at retail price, an
were forced to sell at the same prices. This,
would seem, would have removed the Jealous ettoI
of hotel proprietors to make their liquor trade a
large as possible.
| But none of these expedients was successful
The total consumption Of liquor was scarcely din
Finished The amount of drunkenness in Swede
showed no decrease, and hospitals and medical rec
ords were as full of alcoholic patients and cases
illness caused by alcoholism, as before. 1t wa
evident. that the decrease in the amount OF liquC
sold at hotels and bars was offset by the increase
business done at wine stores where customer
bought as much bottled spirits as they liked an
| took it home for consumption.
! The "book system" which is in operation
was devised by Doctor Bratt at the beginning {
the war. 1t allowed every citizen in good stanC
ing to buy one ltre and no more Of sprltuous lie
uor every FIVE days. To make this plan feasibl
each person was provided with a small book n
Isembling a Communication railroad ticket, frol
which coupon was torn every time the consume
bought his ltre of whiskey, brandy, cognac, punc
scnapps, or whatever kind of alcoholic beverag
he fancied At the same time, his book was staml
ed with the date of the purchase SO that it woul
| be clear to the dealer when he made his last pu
chase. Without showing his book, no citizen
Stockholm has the remotest chance Of obtaining
bottle of liquor anywhere In the city. The regul
ton is rgidly enforced
1t is true that in some cases, however, exec
tons are made. If one can persuade the author
ties that on account Of his socia. position and tt
demands of constant entertainment one litre ever
five days is totally inadequate, and if the author
ties are convinced that such person can be trus
ed with more liquor without abusing the privilet
conferred upon him. he is then given a speci
license to purchase two three or more itres, a
cording to the circumstances. On the other har
if the person is a notorious drunkard, has pole
record, or has in any other way incurred the di
pleasure of the authorities he is allowed no liquc
at all For purposes of ascertaining the standir
Of the citizen in the community an elaborate cal
catalogue system is maintained at the central b
reau and all questions Of allowing any person mo-
or less than the ordinary amount of liquor a
referred to this.
| The results OF this system are already remar
able In 1914, the total consumption Of sprituou
liquors was only 2979682 litres, compared wit
5OO4.6 ltres for the year before The decrea
in 1915 has been even more marked.