The Blackpool Herald. — 1885-05-15 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

GOOD DRINK OR BAD.  The Liverpool Daily Post says :—" The Dundee spirit dealers do not seem to have long hesitated as to their duty to themselves in connection with the new Budget. It may have taken them a day or two to comprehend the figures and changes, but as soon as they did so they hastened to re-adjust prices. At a meeting held on Friday, the increase in the duty on whisky was fully discussed. It was resolved, on and after that day, to increase the price of whisky to sd. per glass, and the "nip," a half-glass, to 2id. It was also resolved that in the meantime no alteration should be made in the price of the glass of beer. So far as the general trade is concerned, probably some brands of whisky may be increased in price, but the cost at the common bars will remain as at present, and it is not likely that the price of beer will go up. But what will happen will be that the whisky wil be more &dui. terated than at present." "A Physician" reminds us that " the whole drink problem with us must sooner or later resolve itself into the common-sense iquestion of good drink or bad, wholesome spirits or , poisonous. New spirit is poisonous to the body and maddening to the temper, because the oils in it have not had time to change into ethers. Old whisky is a comparatively safe and wholesome drink, because those chemical changes have drily taken place, the fragrance of old spirit being the evidence. Certainly the effects of spirit drinking among the poor, the violence, and crime, and disease are for the most part the effect of drinking , bad spirits, and particularly new spirits. This state of things will be aggravated by the new Budget unless precautions are taken, because the vendor cermet afford to increase his prices. Good brandy costa eightpence or more a glass, and whisky threepence for fusil oil to sixpence for more or less wholesome qualities. What the publican or hotel-keeper will do, therefore, will be to adulterate either by weakening or by purchasing newer and : therefore more fiery spirits, and by reducing the quality of beer. This is so far as the general public are concerned; rich people will not begrudge an extra charge on a good article. There are people who prefer the quickly-intoxicating spirits. The Durham pitman anxiously asked for rum that would "burn his throttle." But this fiery drink means murder, vieilenoe, outrage, disease; and the State would do well to insist that, whatever be the price, only wholesome and matured stimulants should be sold. " A Physician" believes that the English people would "prefer wholesome four-yearold whisky if they could get it. Why," he asks, "should they not get it? The interest on the original cost per gallon for four years, and even the shrinkage or leakage, would be a mere tide ownpared with the enormous duty that must be paid in any case. The duty should fall more heavily upon new spirits, and there should be a rebate of the duty for every year that the spirit lies in bond, say up to four years. Beyond that point a rebate of the duty would only be in favour of the rich ; but up to that point some such encouragement to mellowed or matured spirits, and proportionate discouragement to new and fiery liquor, is necessary for the health and happiness of the people." Of course, the teetotal party would not assist in such a movement; but if they are sincere and reasonable in their anxiety for a decrease in pauperism, insanity, poverty, and crime, they should assist in abolishing that quality of liquor which is the must fruitful source of all afflictions named.