The Nenana daily news., 1918-12-06
CUT OUT HARMFUL HABITS
 CF GROG SHOPS

LONDON. - Drunkenness and
 deaths from alcoholism in the United Kingdom show decline ranging
 from 65 to 80 per cent since the
 war regulations against drinking
 were instituted by the government
 three years ago, according to Lord D'Abernon' chairman of the Liquor
 Control Board.
 Abolition of the custom of treat
 ing" and drinking on an empty stomach and the virtual extinction of the saloon loafer, were the main factors contributing to the growing tendency to national temperance, Lord D'Abernon told the Associated Press.
 'The lines on which we have pro- ceeded," he continued, "are to a 1 large extent novel and they have succeeded beyond expectation. Nor is there any evidence of growth of the drug habit, which is usually one of the consequences of too drastic | interference with facilities for ob- 1 taining liquor
 "This happy absence of undesir- i able features I attribute to the fact | that, while facilities have been greatly curtailed-the liquor shops being open five and one-half hours daily, compared with IS or 19 be- l fore the war-our arrangement of | two periods, one at midday and the . other in the evening, has been found | sufficient by those who desire reas- enable refreshment and nothing more, and those are of course the vast majority of drinkers. We are not out to interfere with them. It i is the loafer and soaker, wno would drink if he could from dawn to dusk, who interferes with national efficiency and whom we are out to stop. I think we have succeeded in that"
 Drinking on an empty stomach, he remarked, was one cause of in- toxication which the hours fixed for the sale of liquor tend 70 check Those hours are from noon to 2:3O and from 6:3O to 9:3O in the even- l; ings. Most drinks consequently are taken with meals.
 On charts illustrating the temper ance advance in England and Wales, Lord D'Abernon traced the decline of i; ills incident to alcoholism. |" The delirium tremens and alcohol mor- tality figures" he said, "are of special importance as showing that {: there cannot have been any diver sion of excessive drinking from the public house to the home :
 He thought that the abolition of treating had also contributed large ly to the gain in temperance. "This he said, Had as it's o5- : jective the elemination of the cus- tom whereby groups of workers after receiving their weeks wages, !: spent a considerable part of it in : standing their corners,' until each member of the party had in turn paid for drinks all around-to the 1etriment both of their working efficiency and of the happiness of their wives and families. Tfe won lerful sobriety of the army and navy is due in no small degree to he restrictions on treating.
 Altogether, we have much reason for satisfaction. Under conditions which on previous occasions had led o a great increase of intemperance the great demand for labor, plenti- , ude of money, perpetual excite nent and strain-we in this coun- : ny are able to record an unpre- : 'edented decrease of intemperance. : There has been a great saving of E national efficiency, a great saving : If life, and improvement in the pub E ic health. :
 "No similar progress has, so far : IS am aware, been accomplished : n any country at any period. The : British public have shown their : of the vital import