The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1917-12-07
Alcoholic Content Of Brewery
Product Must Not Exceed
Three Per Cent
VOLUME NOT REDUCED
Reasons for Saving Only Third Of
Grain Explained by Hoover
WHISKY TO BLAME

In order to save part of the food
formerly used by the breweries, the
President of the United States, exer-
cising the power granted by Congress,
and in accord with the recommenda
ton of the Food Administration, has
issued an order to limit the quantity
of grain to be used in the production
of beer.
The following extracts from a
Washington news dispatch by Arthur
Sears Henning, in the Chicago Trib-
une, explain the action which has
been taken:
Washington, D. c., Nov. 26.-(Spe-
ciaD-President Wilson decreed today
that beer brewcd henceforth in the
United States shall be less intoxicat-
isg.
He approved a recommendation by
Food Administrator Hoover reducing
the alcoholic content of beer to 8 per
cent and also reducing the amount of
grain used in brewing to approxi-
mately 20 per cent of the volur1e now
consumed.
Brew Same VolIn.
With the alcoholic content reduced
from the present average of 4 per cent
to 3 per cent, it will be possible to
brew the volume of beer now con-
sumed from 70 per cent of the amount
of grain now employed. Therefore,
there will be no diminution in the
supply of beer, but it will be less in
toxicating.
While the action of the President
and Mr. Hoover is primarily meas
IRE for the conservation of cereals
needed to expand the food supply, the
administration takes occasion to de-
clare itself against the Prohibition OF
beer at this time and otherwise to
announce its stand on the liquor ques-
ton.
Statement by Hoover
The action of the administration
was announced in the following state
ment by Mr.. Hoover:
"The President has approved the
recommendation of the food admins
tration that the alcoholic content of
beer shall be reduced in the first in
stance to per cent maximum and
that the volume of grain to be used
in brewing shall be reduced to an
amount approximately 20 per cent of |
the amount of grain formerly used,
enabling the brewing of the same vol
une of beer.
Furthermore, provisions are being
made to increase the maximum out
put of cattle feed from brewing es-
Establishments.
Liquor Supply on Hand
"The food bill provides for the Pro-
hibition of the use of foodstuffs in
the production of distilled spirits for
beverage purposes and the use of
foodstuffs in the production of dis
titled drinks was stopped on
September g. There is, however,
in the country from two to three
years supply of whisky, brandy, and
gin and other distilled liquors. The
food bill provides that these liquors
can be Communicated by the govern
ment if required for purposes of man
ufacture of alcohol for munitions.
"On the other hand, the require
ments for industrial alcohol in addi-
ton to the normal output from saw
dust and other waste products are at
present negligible.
Would Increase Evil
"Those who wish brewing entirely
suppressed should therefore bear in |
mind that if such a course were pur-
sued the country would be placed on
a whisky basis entirely and the
amount of alcohol consumed would
most probably increase.
"The desirability of saving all the
grain used in brewing from the point
of view of food conservation is there
fore limited by the social question in
volved in the exclusive use of whisky"
The amount of cereal food that will |
be saved by curtailing the volume of