DRUNKENNESS IN BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1934, Page 2

DRUNKENNESS IN BRITAIN

36,285 CONVICTIONS LAST YEAR. The convictions for drunkenness in England and Wales during 1933 totalled 36,285, an increase of 6,139 on 1932, or over 20 per cent., according to the annual licensing statistics issued by the Home Office recently. There were decreases in the first two months of the year, but increases in every other month, the largest taking place in July, September, and Noember. The increase was common to all areas, the highest rate being 38.6 per cent, in the four Northern Counties and the lowest 4.5 per cent, in _ the South-western agricultural counties. The convictions for drunkenness reported to have been due to the drinking of methylated spirits totalled 683, compared with 590 for 1932. No fewer than twenty-six country areas bad under three convictions per 10.000 of the population. Rutland had the best record with none, while Suffolk was second with 1.05. At the other end of the table were Ncwcastle-on-Tyne 28.17, London (County) 30.64, and City of London 139.22. iThe general average was 8.99. The reason why the city of London heads the list is that while so many thousands of people work in the area, the resident population, on which the percentage is based, is so small.