Evening star., 1932-04-07
F|NNS STAY SOBER
ASL|QUOR RETURNS
First Week End of Wet
Regime Is Orderly-Dance
Places Jammed.
BY JAMES B. WHARTON.

By cable 70 Tne star.
HELSNGFORS, Finland, April Z
'(N.AN.A).-With prohibition Just
ended in Finland and the country re-
established on a wet basis, it already
appears that the change is going to be
successful.
Finland Is congratulating itself upon
the order of the first Saturday night OF
the wet regime. The police report
there were not as many arrests for in
toxication as had been customary on
Saturday nights during prohibition.
The general view of the press here IS
that indications are excellent Tor the
successful operation of the new law for
the controlled distribution OF liquor.
When the liquor stores opened their
doors for the second day before, with a
crowded as on the day before, with a
heavy demand for all the liquors in
stock. The go spirit shops and "a beer
depots throughout Finland drew the
equivalent of $35, 900 business the first
day. In five hours the largest store in
Helsingfors took in $1,000.
Dance Places Jammed.
The evening of Finlands first wet
day hotel cafes, restaurants and dance
places were janmed until midnight,
when they closed their doors in COM
pliance with the usual police regula-
ton. There was great jollity but no
evidence of drunkenness.
Visits to half a dozen places, ranging
In patronage from workingmen to
wealthy people, found them all equally
crowded and equally orderly, even at
the moment OF closing. To American
observers there did not seem nearly as
much excess as during New Year eve
celebrations in large cities in the United
States under prohibition.
One of the immediate results Of the
abolition of prohibition In Finland ap-
pears to be reduction in the size OF
drinks. Whiskies sold in restaurants
are about half the size of those served
before and about half the old price.
For the first time since 1919 proper
liquor glasses and varied drinks appear
on restaurant tables. During prohibi-
tion whisky and schnapps, a very
strong white brandy, were about all that
could be had.
The governments liquor mo-
nopoly has printed the prices and sizes
of drinks which various grades of res
taurants may charge. The best places
sell a drink of whisky for the equiva-
lent of from % cents up. French cognac
costs % cents, beer 10 cents and very
small glass of cheap ESthonian brandy
brings the incredibly low price OF 3
cents. The present low value OF the
Finnish mark makes these prices lower
for the American than for the Finn.
The cheaper dance places are not
yet licensed to sell anything but beer
and wines In one very cheap dance
place all the patrons were observed
drinking beer, coffee, tea or even milk.
A vain effort was made to get whisky
there. Considerable sentiment exists
to license such places to sell schnapps,
to prevent patrons bringing TASKS. But
American visitors saw no flask drinking.
In fashionable places French wines
and cognac and Swedish punch are the
most popular drinks. Prices there are
reasonable, even with dancing, music
and other entertainment.
Only one establishment was observed
which had had time to prepare a wine
list for the opening night-the first
such list presented to patrons in l3
years. Some places followed the lead
of newspapers and published poems in
praise of wine and sounding the knell
Of bad bootleg liquor.
Law Passed in February.
The entire business of eliminating
prohibition moved rapidly, beginning in
December when a national plebiscite
favored abolishing the dry order. Par
lament passed the new liquor law in
February. Thus there was little time
properly to prepare for the change.
Many places ran out of supplies the
first night One establishment by mid
night could furnish only coffee. The
manager said he could have used 400
bottles of wine, but received only SO.
Monopoly stores reported all Madeira
and Swedish punch exhausted the sec
ond day. 1t will be possible to expe-
dite importation Of liquor when the ice
locked Helsingfors Harbor is opened by
the end of this week.
In a tour of observation the first
night after prohibition ended an OBJ
server saw only two drunks, one in a
middle class dance place and the other
on the street. Agents for liquor dealers
are keeping the fact of the legality of
liquor before the public by sending out
= tor trucks carrying enormous dummy
ottles advertising whiskies and cognacs.
Liquor statesmen from all Europe are
crowding the hotels, hoping to sell their
wares to the monopoly. A monopoly
official said liquor buying thus far from
the stores was by the poorer people.
Those with more means depend on get
ting their drinks from restaurants,
which they prefer to waiting in line
outside Of the stores. Also, they know
that later on the stores will have better
grades of goods than now
1t is apparent that the change over
to the wet basis has been accomplished
not without faults. 1t is believed many
minor changes must be made as time
passes. Belief is that as good legal
liquor becomes increasingly available,
bootleg trade will fade away. 1t is said
oootleggers in the last few weeks have
been trying to get rid of their goods at
any price. Penalties for illegal distribu-
ton have been increased. and it is pre-
dicted that Finland's speakeasies soon
will cease to exist
(Copyright. 1882, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc