LIQUOR AT CAFES

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1931, Page 8

LIQUOR AT CAFES

A BISHOP’S SUGGESTION.

ADELAIDE, September 24.

The Anglican Bishop of Willochra. (Dr. Richard Thomas), discussing prohibition at a meeting of the diocesan synod to-day advocated the conducting of hotels in a religious atmosphere to cultivate a spirit of temperance. More harm was often done to the human race through over-eating than through over-drinking, he said. If it could be proved that alcoholic drinks were themselves evil or highly deleterious to the human race it might then be said that prohibition was right in principle. Temperance was needed, not prohibition. Under present conditions in Australia prohibition could not be enforced if it became law. Discussing an alternative to prohibition, Dr. Thomas agreed that existing conditions were not ideal, and suggested: (1) The abolition of hotel bars and the introduction of the custom of serving drinks at tables, as in France and other countries; (2) the abolition of the pernicious practice of “shouting drinks”; (3) the alteration of existing hotel hours, which irritated some people, and were not always observed, and the substitution of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Di inking intoxicants before breakfast was more harmful than excessive drinking at night. (4) Greater supervision over the manufacture and sale cf I quor of all kinds, including nonalcoholic drinks, to ensure that wholesome beverages were provided. That applied also to tea and coffee sold in refreshment rooms, which probably did more harm than intoxicating drinks. (•">) The manufactue of light wines ■ ud beers would be an advantage in 'he Australian climate.