CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR : SOME FIGURES .

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sra,The following figures -have been extracted from the' United Kingdom Alliance Year Book, and form- remarkable' evidence of a great social change. - I do not think the public are sufficiently aware of them, and I hope that you can find space to publish them -

1914.

Consumption of beer (stan- 1927. -

dard barrels) - • 34,130,000 •

20,819,000' Spirits (proof *allons) .. 31,660,000

12,889,662 Wine (gallons) 10,630,000

16,628,000 Drink Bill .. £164,463,000

.. • ' £298,800,000 Revenue from spirits 1.43,298,861

' £136,575,259 Convictions for drunkennOes 183,828

- 65,106

Among other matters it is interesting- to note that the public are paying nearly twice the-amount for little more than half the quantity of liquor they, consumed in 1914, a result assisted doubtless by dilution. And in this way the 'rrade has been able to pass on the _trebly increased taxation. And with , what happy. results ! What a change in our police courts ! While formerly we rarely had a court without a " drunk " we now only have two or three a year. I speak of an industrial district. And it is years since we have had any trouble in the works on account of drunkenness. We can hardly be too thankful for the change. Surely it is the greatest good that the ill wind of War has blown us.—I am, Sir, &c.,

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