THE DRINK BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 19918, 14 July 1928, Page 10

THE DRINK BILL.

TO the: editor Sir,—A.few days ago a correspondent over the signature “T.M.” wrote about our enormous liquor bill. It may interest your readers fn know that, acting to the 1927 ‘ Year Book, the imports of non-aicoholic beverages and substances used in making up same exceeded those for alcoholic liquors for potable purposes. The import figures shown ou page 333 of the ‘Year Book’ cover the year 1925, and are:—Beverages (non-alcoholic) and substances used in making up same, £1,084.057; spirits and alcoholic liquors, £1,094,029. As non-potable spirits, such as methylated spirits, spirits of wine, and spirits for the manufacture of essences to the value of approximately £60,000 arc included in the above amount for alcoholic liquors, it will be seen that the imports of non-alcoholic beverages were roughly £50,000 greater than those of alcoholic liquors. The duty collected on the above figures was:—Non-alcoho-lic beverages, £17.575; spirits and alcoholic liquors, £1,304,512. —I am, etc., July 14.