The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1924-02-08
ESTH0nlAR GOVERNMENT, CHURCHES, STUDENTS,
AND TEMPERANCE BODIES PRAISE ". |. 4. A..
David Ostund Scandinavian League,
Finds Interest Prohibition enforcement Temperance
Legislation Encouraging Esthonian Temperance
League Outlines Legislation to Parliament

fpresident OF this League, which is
composed OF 3l2 separate organza-
tons, with total membership OF
10000. One hundred and fourteen OF
these 342 organizations are Bands OF
Hope. the next highest number rep
resented are young peoples associa-
tons, totalng %. Other organiza-
tons represented are High School and
University associations. Boy and Girl
Scouts. Women's Associations. etc.
Besides lecturing before the Esthonian
Temperance Congress at Dorpat |
had an opportunity to speak on tenn
perance work as Christian work at the
University Church at Dorpat.
Hope is With the Church
"Thc hope OF Esthonia with regard
to prohibition lies with the churches.
and it was therefore most encouraging
to find open doors OF churches OF all
denominations, including tho Greek
Catholic. The need of trained pas
tor for this work is great in Esthonia,
Many expressions of gratitude were
extended TO the World League Against
/ alcoholism for the Leagues interest
/ in Esthonia.
Crime Increase With Return c
4 LIQUOR
The abolition OF war prohibition in
the country in 1920 has resulted in an in
crease III crime OF 90 per cent. State rev
enue from liquor is reported to be one
billion Esthonian marks annually, which
i'll American money amounts TO 50,
100000. Liquor tax amounts to nearly
paid for liquor The entire budget for
the state OF Esthona totals seven bill
lion Esthonian marks and the liquor
revenue is about one-seventh of the
states total income. 1t is not true
that Esthonia is financing her budget
to any considerable extent by money
derived from the export OF alcohol.
The state receives about forty million
marks. or less than one-half of one
per cent of the total state income from
this source. Total exports from Es-
thonia in 1922 were 4.S11 ,580.868 Is
thonian marks, but out OF this emily
172,200,0O0 were for spirits. The eco
nomic side OF the issue is sure to re-
cieve an open car everywhere i'll T.
thonia.
Liquor Legislation Proposed
"The Esthonian Parliament is ct
present working on new liquor legis-
lation. The system in effect since
July |, 1920, which allows every male
adult to buy quantity OF one toop
monthly of 95 per cent whisky, has
resulted i'll increased drunkenness.
Ono toop is equivalent to 123 itcrs.
This is diluted with water so that il
amounts to about two and one-ha!f
quarts OF whisky per month. In add
ton to this check system, which re-
semblcs the Swedish Bratt System,
the Esthonians can obtain alcohol with
their meals in the restaurants. There
is no limitation on beer consumption,
and as 4 consequence an unusually
large quantity OF beer is drunk.
"The proposed legislation which
has been presented to Parliament
through the Temperance League Of
Esthonia includes the following
Recommends that c o h c
strength of liquor be limited to not
more than 80 per cent At present the
limit is 95 per cent.
"a proposal to reduce the dstil-
leries' output, diminishing this output
b. one-tenth per year, so that prohi-
bition would become effective auto
matically in ten years
"a proposal that alcohol be sold to
card holders, not by checks, the card
not to be left with the buyer but al
ways to be kept at the place of selling,
so that no one but its owner could
Use it.
"a proposal to limit one liquor
selling establishment to each 10000
population.
"A proposal for local option by ref
ercndum.
"a proposal for Sunday closing OF
all liquors selling places.
How much of this legislation will
be realized is OF course problematical.
! There is not majority for total pro-
hibiton in the Esthonian Parliament
at this time, but there is majority
sentiment in favor of curtaiing the
traffic and in favor OF safeguarding the
peoples health"
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