Evening star., 1926-03-31
MALT T0N|C'S USE
AS BEER SECUTED
Can Be Taken From Market
and Is DistaStefuI An
dreWS Warns in Advance.

The Government policy of grant
ing permits for the manufacture and
distribution of malt and wine tonics
was declared by Assistant Secretary Of
the Treasury Andrews today TO be
hedged about with such reasonable
regulation" that if the public attempts
to use any of these products as beer
for beverage purposes they can he
withdrawn from the market immedi-
ately.
The formal statement by Gen. An
drews, the field marshal of prohibition,
was amplified by opinions from eX-
perts in the prohibition unit who eSti
mated today that the so-called medic
inal beer of 3.75 per cent alcoholic
content. which has kicked up Nation
wide comment within the past few
days, would be impossible To drink as
a beverage in Intoxicating quantities.
Are Made DistastefuI.
While a large number of medicinal
preparations on the market listed as
malt and wine tonics do contain
higher per cent of alcohol than would
he permissible in a beverage, Chief
Chemist Doran of the prohibition unit
said today they had been rendered so
distasteful or so filled with solids as
to preclude their use as beer. In other
words. he claimed they would be too
unpleasant to drink and could not be
consumed in any quantity without
most discomfiting consequences.
In his formal statement, Gen.
Andrews said the Government pol
lev on granting permits for the manu-
facture and distribution of such tonics
was adopted after thorough consid-
Grafton the question: According
to Gen. Andrews, it Ill amounts to
this-agreements are being entered
into with the old reliable houses to
restore to the market certain we'll
known and established tonics on the
basis that the manufacturer accepts
the responsibility for their distribu
ton for legitimate purposes and agrees
to watch this closely and withdraw
the product from any market where
it appears that the tonic is being sold
for use as a beverage"
Can Be Taken OF Market.
This is practicable and reason
able" continued Gen. Andrews, and
is done for the purpose of making
these tonics availa BILE to those who
need them. A malt tonic containing
25 per cent of solids is, by stretching
tho ina gination, a beer If the pub
lie attempts to use it as a beer it
can be instantly withdrawn from the
market.
"The department believes this to be
reasonable regulation In the best IN
terest of the public and is confident
that the public will so consider 1t and
treat it.
announcement that the Anheuser-
Busch Co. has been granted permit to
manufacture such a malt tonic with
375 alcoholic content stirred up com
ment throughout the country from
the Saloon League that Such a
nolicy on behalf of the Government
was a mistake" and caused declara-
tions that such malt tonics would not
he salable under State laws.
Some legal opinion in the Treasury
apneared to agree with some State
authorities that the article could be
nrohibited under the. State law.
some druggists. at least, are not en-
tbusiastic over the action of Brig.
Cen Andrews. In the opinion OF
Theodore d. Watterstroem, secretary
of the Ohio Pharmaceutical Assocla-
tior. II will threaten the professional
standing of drug stores dispensing II
and tend to break down regulations
governing the sale of tonics generally
Dry's Views Differ.
The views of prohibition advocates
oiffer hut most of them appear to be
against the order DR.. +. }. Moore,
of the Ohio Anti
saloon League, expressed the opinion
that sale of malt tonic would not
violate the spirit or letter of the
Volstead law, but six officials of the
national organization, including F.
Scott Mcbride, general superintend.
ent, and Wayne B. Wheeler, general
counsel. described it as a mistake"
which will lead to multiplied eva
sions of the law and diversions for
beverage USE Their opinion was
mild compared with that of E. S.
Shumaker, superintendent of the In
diana Anti-Saloon League, who said
you might as well open up the corner
saloon" and predicted that this will
mark the end of Andrews"
The brewers granted permits to
manufacture and sell the new tonic
CONTINUED on Page 5. Column u