The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-04-01
GOVT. AUTHORIZES
3.Z5 PERCENT Beer
PERMITS WILL BE GRANTED TO
DRUG STORES TO HANDLE
AS MEDICINE
STATE MAY BLOCK SALE
VOLSTEAD, FATHER OF PROHI.
BITION SEES DANGER IN
NEW PLAN

Washington, Mar 3O.-Medicinal
beer comparable in alcoholic content
to the pre-prohibition beverages will
be accessible to the public for the
next six months at least.
The new "health booster" which
Anheuser-Busch, Inc, of St. Louis
and the Pabst Brewing company of
Milwaukee have been given permits
sion to manufacture is expected to
be accessible to the public at about
the time the Senate judiciary COM
mittee gets under way with its hear
ing on bills designated to release the
old-fashioned beverage from present
Volstead law restrictions.
The only restriction on sale of
the malt tonic will be the number of
cases drug stores may handle. The
permits granted the two brewing
companies of the treasury allow an
alcoholic coptent Of 3.75 per cent
volume. ...f.
From 5 to rs cases may be furn-
ished drug stores weekly, according
to their size and no prescriptions will
be required of consumers who feel
the need of more and better health.
The "kick"-from the healthy
vets standpoint not in the al
coholic content but in the warning
that the tonic won't behave pleas
antly if treated as beverage. In
stead of seven to ten per cent of malt
solids, as in pre- prohibition beer, it
will contain 25 per cent. As re-
ult, officials explained excessive
drinking of the tonic will produce i'll
ness. The difference in alcoholic
content is much less pronounced, pre-
prohibition beer having contained
from three to three and one-half per
cent by volume. The permits for
manufacture and sale of tonic were
issued for six months, and provided
that the brewers should assist the
government in keeping it out Of the
hands of bootleggers.
Wholesalers already have been ask
ed to assist in the enforcement of
this provision.
The wet and dry leaders mean
while, are marshalling their forces
for the modification hearings, which
the Senate committee will begin Mon
day and continue for two weeks with
the time equally divided between the,
contending groups. io. r..
Prohibition officials expect the new
medicinal beer to be sold in bone dry
states as well as those having no
state prohibition law. In the opinion
of Senator Jones of the prohibition
unit, there are no state laws that
would bar it. .
Z Many tonics and other medicines
containing substantial percentage
OF alcohol are on sale regularly at.
drug stores throughout the country
and are obtainable without prescrip-
ton.
: Mr.. Jones said today that some of
the tonics now on the market contain
lesser percentage of solids than will
the new beer.
Volstead Sees Danger Ahead. /"
St. Paul, March 30.-Andrew j.,
Volstead, father of the prohibition
enforcement act, is not ready to put
his stamp of approval on the 'health
brew" sanctioned by prohibition en-
forcement administration.
Unless the brew really proves to be
merely tonic unfit for beverage pur-,
POoCo,. oil olilpillSIlNS LII CIlIS QlSEfICC
will be seized, said Volstead, who is;
legal adviser in the district enforce
ment offices.
The state attorney generals office
backed this up with a statement that
if the 3.75 brew proves "potable as a
beverage" it cannot be sold under the
Minnesota prohibition laws.
Further gloom for potential beer
drinkers emanated from st. Paul
Brewing companies where officials
declared the brew will be so heavy
with it's rs per cent malt solid that
a glass or two will satiate any appe-
tite. Mr.. Volstead, whose first knowl-
edge of the order came through press
dispatches, said he believed it would
correspond, to malt tonics manufac-
tured before prohibition and that its
preparation is covered under sections
of the 18th amendment defining pa
tent and proprietary medicines.