N.S.W. DRINK BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 310, 29 December 1920, Page 5

N.S.W. DRINK BILL.

OVER £8 PER HEAD. RECORD TOTAL, £10,251,0001 SYDNEY, December 41. It is estimated by the State Government Statistician (Mr. H. A. Smith)that in New South Wales during: tfw year ended June 30, 1020, the sum, of £10,261,000 wae expended in the «onsumption of intoxicating liquor. The total is about £2,976,000 greater then the total for the previous year, and the amount per head of population ie about £1 7/3 more. Between 1913 (the year before the commencement of the war) and 1916-17, the consumption of intoxicants decreased, and the prices increased each year. In 1916-17 the decreased consumption offset the increased prices, and caused a reduction in the total drink bill. Prices continued to increase during 1917-18 and 1918-19, but in each year there was an increase in the quantity of beer and wine consumed, and a decrease in the consumption of spirits, ateo in ea<?h year the aggregate expenditure on intoxicants increased. The imposition of the new tariff in March. 1920. caused a further rise in prices. Nevertheless, there was a noticeafale increase in the consumption, and the drink bill wae the highest on record. Apparent reaeons for the increased consumption arc the return of the soldiers from overeeas and the general increase in wages among tho community. "But, although there wae a large increase in consumption," says the Statistician, "it should not be aesumed that the average consumption was abnormally large. In fact, it now approximates closely to the average consumption in 1913, the principal difference being that there ie a reduced consumption nf imported spirits and beer and an increaesed consumption of local beer and wine." The total quantities consumed in 1919----20 were as follows:—Spirits. 1,037,500 (proof), gallone; beer 26,810,000 gallons; and wine, 1.354,500 gallons. The corresponding quantities in 1913 were: — Spirit*. 1.734,900 gallons (proof); beer, 24,311,400 gallone; and wine, 986,300 gallons.