Licensing Laws

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 10

Licensing Laws

Sir, —“Grandmother” and all the prohibitionists overlook that for real drinkers it matters not whether alcoholic drinks are difficult or easy to get They will always feet enough to be drunk. I lived for over 50 years in Europe and was long in the countries where alcoholic beverages are served in every hotel or restaurant with or without meals, especially Germany, France, Belguim, and Holland, in both the last ones and partly in Germany, even during the night to 4 a.m. There were no more drunkards to be seen than there are here. Why, therefore, because of the few habitual drinkers, deny people, who like a nice evening, or meals, with modest drinking of alcoholic beverages in restaurants, etc. I myself, now nearly 80 years old. enjoyed my whole adult life—like many of my friends—to drink modestly and was never drunk.— Yours, etc., D.L.F. December 7, 1960.

Sir, —Mr Miles demonstrates my point- when he says that leniency to “drunks” in crimes of violence is too general; and I think a change over to Draconian severity in the law would, in time, achieve results. Local option is no bad thing if it genuinely represents a majority view, but compulsory prohibition, and artificial restrictions on the sale of liquor as I saw them in America and Canada during the 'thirties, are certainly not justified by results. Education in civilised drinking habits may be a long, hard process, but the older civilisations have learnt the value of moderation, and voluntary self-control is the only satisfactory answer to this difficult problem.—Yours, etc.. CARACTACUS. December 8, 1960.