BAD LIQUOR

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 86, 10 January 1928, Page 10

BAD LIQUOR

Sir, —n is a pity that the statistics quited in cablegrams relating to' prohibition in the U.S.A, are usually lacking in precision, and make it extremely difficult to get at the truth. These statements almost invariably follow immediately on any cablegram containing matter (such as Mr. Volstead’s statement about improved enforcement) favourable to prohibition. For instance, the cablegram of January. 4 says that "770 persons were killed by bad liquor in 1927.” Tf this means that in the whole of the U.S.A. 770 persons were so killed in 1927; hero has been a drop c-f 2230 in such deaths during the year, ns a cablegram dated January 4. 1927 .stated that in 192 G there were 3000 deaths from bad liquor. I£ the figures 770 refers to New York onlv, and not to the whole U.S.A., then wo have to remember that in NewYork there is no State enforcement law co-operating with tho Federal law, t.ntl that it is there more than anywhere else that, the alien . elements conspire to defeat the prohibition law. being aided by official laxity, exhibited from Governor AL Smith downwards. If the alcoholic deaths are increasing in New York, ‘it. may bo taken as certain that tho increase is due. not to prohibition, but to lack of enforcement of the prohibition law. New York City itself provides proof of the foregoing contention. Tn 1916 the average weekly deaths from.alcoholism in that city were 13,. in 1917. the Inst full "wet” year, the weekly average was 10, desnite the fact that.‘in those days only the more obvious case's of death from alcoholism were certified as such. In 1920. the first prohibition year, the weekly average was a little over 1, and there were 21 consecutive weeks in which no deaths from alcoholism were recorded. Since then the outlawed liquor traffic has organised itself, the politicians have repealed the. State enforcement law, a small minority of loud-voico'd folk have preached defiance of the law, and it is not surprising that there should be an increase in alcohol deaths as compared with the first “dry” year before all this organised hostility began. Moreover, evidence given before the Senate Subcommittee .in 1928. showed that after 1921 soine hospitals began "admitting ah alcoholic eases presented. which had not formerly been .the practice,” and this would tend to increase the number of cases recorded.' - Tn 1.908; calculations, based, on figures supplied, by the ‘three largest, insurance companies in the U.S.A., and endorsed by “Tho Medical Record," set the total annual deaths directly and indirectly due to alcohol in the U.S.A, nt 66.090 pef annum. That was- tho deadly harvest

of alcoholic drink, good, bad, and indifferent, before prohibition. Nobody thought of cabling calling attention to this terrific annual slaughter by alcoholic beverages. Dr. Haven Emerson, Professor of Public Health Administration, Columbia University, New York, recognised internationally as an outstanding authority, demonstrating the great public health gains due to prohibition, said "All that I have to offer you is the evidence that with every reduction in the use of alcohol there is an improvement in the health of the. people, practically at all ages.” So that the conclusion is .alleged “good” liquor is a menace to public health, so is “bad” liquor, and that tho less alcoholic beverages there are about, the more is public health benefited, and the chances of longevity increased. — lam. etc., J. MALTON MURRAY. Executive Secretary. New Zealand Alliance.

January 7.