THE COST OF LIQUOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 8

THE COST OF LIQUOR.

DOMINION'S DRINK BILL. AVERAGE CONSUMPTION PER HEAD. A DECREASE RECORDED. [BY TKLKiiBAPH. — PRKSS ASSOCIATION - .] Wellington, Friday. The drink bill for the Dominion for 1913, states the compiler, Mr. A. 8. Adams, is ] based upon the Customs re\enue for liquor cleared for consumption, and for beer manufactured in the Dominion. The basis of valuation adopted in years past, it is suggested, is in some respects too high ; I but it has Veen thought that as the figures of previous years have been calculated in the same manner, a change is not desirable. To adopt a new basis would lead to serious errors in comparison. The figures show that in the period covered, from January 1 to December 31, there was mi increase in the total consumption of spirits and beer; but it is satisfactory to note that the consumption per head of the population shows a decrease of lljd. The figures are as follows :— Gals. Cost. Increase £ (gals.). Spirits 1176,769 1,753,538 12,973 Wines 147,056 294,113 6,560* Beer (imp.) ... 299,210 89,763 2,830 Beer (N.Z.) ... 10,001,200 2,000,240 214,080 Total cost of liquor ... 4.137,653 I Total for 1912 1,081,165: Increase over 1912 ... 56,49! 'Decrease. The estimated population in 1913 was 1,118.489, an increase over 1912 of 29,670, and the estimated cost of liquor in the different years was as follows :— Coat of liquor per head, 1912 ... £3 14 111 Cost of liquor per head, 1918 ... £3 14 0 Decrease of cost of liquor per head 0 0 Hi The quantities of different liquors consumed per head of the population work out: Spirits, .78 gallons; wines, .131; beer, 9.809. " Attention must again be called," concludes Mr. Adams, "to the enormous gross total of the expenditure. It seems almost incredible that in this small country £4,137,653 should be spent on intoxicating liquors in one year—a sum greater than the total revenue from the whole of the railways of the Dominion. The average expenditure on liquor of each household of five persons is £1£ 10s per year, but in many homes there is no liquor or only a small quantity used. The same applies to the mental and general hospitals, gaols, and other public institutions. The tax upon the homes of the drinkers must le very heavy."