Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-25
'DRYS RAP FIGURES
|. ON U. S. LIQUOR BILL
Methodist Board Says Con-
sumption Cannot BE Esti-
mated Reliably.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Board of Temperance, Prohibi-
ton and Public Morals of the Methodist
Episcopal Church said in a statement
today that neither the Association
Against Prohibition nor any one else
knew how much liquor was consumed
by the American people.
There are no statistics in regard to
the consumption of liquor in the United
States and can be none with any re-
liability whatever" the board said
THE Association Against the Prohibi-
ton Amendment has released a state
ment alleging that the people of the
United States are now consuming So
S48,000,000 worth Of intoxicating bev-
erages annually
Assails Gullibility.
ut Is surprising that this anti-prohi-
bition body would risk its reputation
for sincerity by the publication of a
story which can appeal only to the gull
libIe."
The Association Against Prohibition
had said it believed it's estimate Con-
sentative" The Temperance Board said
there were many indications that the
consumption under prohibition was very
much less than it was when the liquor
trade was urtrammeled and afforded
lively ldClitIy lOI lIdCc
THAT is all that can be said definite
establishments are merely ridiculous" it
added
1T is absurd to say that a trade
which has been deprived of the oppor-
tunity Of establishing public places of
sale, deprived of the privilege of adver-
Using, deprived Of unhindered transpor-
tation, has yet been able to build up a
liquor bill in excess of that of the pre-
prohibition period. The opinion of any
one who believes anything so incredible
must be discounted by serious thinkers"
The Association Against Prohibition
estimated people in the United States
are spending upward of $1,000, 900 900
year more for liquors than in 1914.
The associations research department
concluded yesterday the illicit liquor
business has become one of America S
major industries" 1t said the people
are spending $2,848 900 900 annually
for intoxicating beverages, compared
with the 81, 1913, 1885, 12 wholesale figure
Tor passenger automobiles in 1929.
The expenditures were divided as fol-
lows: Spirits, 100000 as against
1868 600 in 1914; malt liquors. 1895.
100000, compared with 81 .032 900, 900,
and wines, $3.50 900 900, against SPA
900 900.
AChCNCS ESblHhdtG conservative.
Comparatively little weight was given
in the calculations, the association said.
to prices paid for liquor In speakeasies
or to the fancy liquors purchased from
city bootleggers."
THE makeup Of liquor consumption
has shifted considerably under prohi-
bition," the report continued. We have
greatly increased our per capita con-
sumption of spirits. The per capita
consumption in 1914 was / "A gallons.
In 1929 1t was les. Beer consumption
has been reduced from 2069 gallons in
1914 to SIS In 1929. On the other hand,
wine consumption has increased from
SO to go. In other words, prohibition
can be credited only with a reduction
in beer consumption"
1T is impossible to conjecture how
much Of the present drink bill goes to
excessive profits of gangsters and gun
men and how much Of it is paid in
wages and salaries to the unlawful OPP
orators" the statement said.
The drink bill would be much higher
but for the fact that the manufacture
of liquors is largely a home industry,
with practically no labor and overhead
costs. The increased expenditure for
hard hqudrJ however has created q
strong and dangerous industry"
The association explained the total
expenditure was reached by figuring the
costs to the public of so cents a gallon
for beer, $500 a gallon for wine and
$11 for spirits.