New Britain herald., 1930-02-04
ONE DRY COUNTRY
 IS ALL IN EUROPE
Finland Alone Is Arid-11 Lands
 Are Wide Open

Paris, Feb. (UP) - Only one nation of Europe - Finland-has a full prohibition law similar to that enacted in the United States.
 Six other nations have stringent rC gulations, four have local option and II have almost no restrictions, q survey Of 22 European countries shows. The countries which have tried prohibition are principally among the northern group and one reason advanced was that those countries had a higher level Of drunkenness which provided a good field for temperance cam paigns.
 The countries which have some form of stringent regulation of the sale of liquor are, in addition to Finland, Great Britain, Belgium, Sweden, Esthonia. I.atyja and Italy. The six employ different means Of regulating liquor consumption and any list Of stringent methods must be arbitrary depending upon in depreciation Of the laws.
 I.atins Fight Prohibition
 Among the nations without or almost without regulations are France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, zecho-Slovakia, Austria. Hungary, Jueoslavia, Holland, Greece and Switzerland. Those countries are f ltfp I mi ho, !, races being chiefly vine and beer drinking peop,es. Great quantities ol wine and tccr arc consumed in those countries but temperance statisticians say their records tend towards sobriety.
 The Latin countries. especially France, Spain and Portugal, pre- sent q problem 10 temperance so- clctics because they consume and export large quanties Of spirits and have constantly fought prohi- hitlon in other countries. They are partly responsible for the les sening Of prohibition restrictions in Norway and Iceland.
 Finland, on the Arctic sea. Was the first country to adopt prohibi- tlon. The law was enacted 2 years before the United Stat $ went dry but was quashed as un- favorable 10 the European wine growers by the Grand Duke of Russia. In 1917 Finland, as an independent country, again passed a dry law which is still in effect. The enforcement has not been per feet and smuggling still exists.
 BclSum's Law
 Belgium has prohibited drinkin1; in public houses Of any liquor more than IS per cent alcohol since i 1919. Belgians may purchase se liquor in not less than two qua-t lots for home consumption. The measure applies 10 all bars, cafes hotels, restaurants. stores. trains boats and the streets. No bottle may be uncorked outside of the l purchasers home. There arc | severe penalties for violators. the law IS carried out strictly and there i t''N 'rN loidllOllS, tue OSL 1TllDa r. jaI observers agree. 4 certain i latitude in interpretation Of law makes it possible 10 sell liquor D, ] he glass in private clubs and there arc many Of these clubs, although l supporters Of the law majnta ;l7 , that Workmen drink less than be. { fore 1919 and crimes due to drunk. enneSs have decreased one-thirl l police reported. Temperance leal- 1 CTS however. are now working for ! total prohibition.
 ! Great Britain has reduced alco- 1 hol consumption by two methods i high government duties on the sal, Of spirits and beer and shortening i Of hours of sale in public houses 1 It is estimated that consump ptior has decreased one half since 191; la strong liquors, although beei consumption has been less reduced A Royal commission has now bee: named to investigate the situation and report on whether there shoul: ! be changes.
 Norway Repcals Law
 The widely-known Bratt sys1e1