THE DECREASE OF DRUNKENNESS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.“]
SIR,—Will you let me draw attention to the happy influence if the regulations made by the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) upon national sobriety ? According to the latest return, it appears that in the scheduled areas of England and Wales not
only the weekly convictions for drunkenness, but the deaths caused directly or indirectly by the indulgence in alcoholic drinks, have, since the outbreak of the war in 1914; been reduced by more than tee-thirds. There has, in the opinion of the Board itself, been " a real change in the drinking habits of the people." What a vast increase of efaciency that change imports I need not attempt to describe. But it must not be forgotten that the change is duo mainly, if not wholly, to the powers which are vested in the Central Control Board, and to the manner ilk which the Board has exercised its powers. There is no evidence that, if the powers were withdrawn or weakened, the evils of alcoholism would not immediately revive. In a word, Drink and the Drink Trade are inseparably connected, and the. State which would seriously cheek the one must permanently curb the other. Experience has now shown how it is possible to attain both these beneficent resulte. May this lesson of the war not be forgotten when the war is over!
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