The sun., 1919-02-26
n. Y.RUM PRICES
SOAR SKYWARD
AS TAX RESULT
Cocktails and Highballs
Quoted at Fifty Cents in
Some Cafes.
AND STILL AWAITING
New High Cost Record Hit in
Many Cities Through
out Country.

There seems to be no telling what
drinks are going to cost from now on
ss result of the signing of the rev.
enue bill by President Wilson yester-
day. In various sections of the city
prices for straight whiskey, highballs
cocktails and all the standard mix
lures varied as they always have ac-
rording to the location. but virtually
every drinking place had apparently
abandoned the idea that 10 cents would
buy anything. Twenty cents was the
lowest price that could purchase a
highball. and the prices then increased
BY nickels and dimes all the way up
town, until they reached 90 cents at
the Cafe Paris.
A thorough canvass of the liquor
situation, however. disclosed the fact
that except for the White Light dis
trict drinks have been raised to 20, %
and 80 cents, while In the Broadway
cafes and saloons the prevailing price
seems to be 40 and so cents. 1t is very
likely, according to representative
hquor men. that the latter price will
re agreed upon by retail dealers of
that section, although several cabaret
proprietors are preparing to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity tosoak the
public and will raise the price to as
high as IS and so cents for highball
and cocktail.
Raise Aids Government.
The situation has decided Advantages
FOR the saloon and cafe owner because
almost any raise that ne may add to the
price of drinks will not only give the
Government its increased revenues. but
give a substantial additional profit TO
'he seller The new law adds $500 TO
The tax on every gallon of liquor. In
each gallon there are siXty-four drinks,
at least and II the price of each drink
we're Increased 5 cents that would add
S3?o 10 the price that the saloonkeeper
gets for the liquor. or just enough to
pay the new tax. So that when the re-
.aiier adds as much as 20 cents to the
price o. each drink--and that has been
done In many sections OF the city-ht
-as a gallon for s12.S0 more than he
got for 1t before the new>law went intt
eject, and that means that he Increases
us profit nv $3.50 after he has paid the
government the additional tax of $500
In addition TO raising the price OF
drink many of the saloons have begun
u.lu,ing the liquor with water and re-
rIcinG the proof to as low as seventy
md eighty.
Most Of the retail liquor dealers have
hair run lnV
" making an inventory will be lessened
'lt they will have to pay the increased
~ TO the wholesaler when they buS
gain. Several wholesalers said they
would add not only the new tax to theii
prices but that they would tack on {
Att,o more for business reasons"
Customers Must Pay.
RotA these charges viii be passed
.ttcss the bar to the customer. The!
'so declared that there is no shortage
-. no real reason why retail prices
mould be raised any more than Is sum
lent 20 cover the new tax. r. l.. Buck
zee OF Cook & Bernheimer. large dist!l
RS said there viii be 50,000,0O0 gal
.Jne Of whisky left over when prohib
'on goes into effect July l.
In survey OF the situation yesterda!
lie following prices were noted il
drlpus sections:
Cafe lie Paris-Forty cents for high
Balls aud so cents for cocktails. with tn
respect Of another 10 cent increase to
day
-S S~'dgc--Thirty cents for hignbails
% cents for cocktails, with anothe
h!ctel increase due tomorrow.
kerbocker-Thirty-fv cents 70
ghballs
Sherry thirty cents for a highball
With cocktails and Scotch highballs 35
Another increase probable to-day.
DelmoniCo's--Forty and so cents, witt
'nother increase likely.
IN all the Bowman NOTES.-The Bit
o7o and others-the price remains
'!ar'er and 1t was said no increase
rely II was also found that a numbe
q smaller places which have large stock
or hand and don't want TO get rid of
before July l have adopted the Bow
nan practice and will retain their pres
'"' prices, temporarily at least.
Seventh avenue and Tnirty-third stree
twenty cents for rye highballs. Sam
.-.oss - Fourteenth street and Thir
avenue
NariCk and Moore streets-Twent
''7'e. with no probability OF another nv
nj Increase.