BRITISH EXCISE REPORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 11

BRITISH EXCISE REPORT.

MORE ALCOHOL USED AND LESS TEA. More wine, bcor, and spirits were consumed in Britain in. the year ended March 31 last than in tho previous your, says tho Daily Chronicle. On tho other hand, less tea and sugar was used, but tho amount of tobacco consumed has increased. Tho Excise Commissioner’s report says;—“The consumption of spirits in Great Britain and Northern Ireland was falling during 1022-23, and iho estimate for 1923-24 was therefore put at £lB million against an attributable revenue of £537 million in the jvrovious year, representing clearances of 13.1 million against 15.2 million proof gallons. The actual clearances, however, amounted to about 15.3 million proof gallons—i.c., slightly more than in 1923-23, and tho revenue to £sl million, yielding a surplus of £G million, on the estimate. According to the report, this recovery of consumption “ may bo ascribed partly to tho slight improvement in industrial conditions, and partly to tho severe prolonged winter.” It was expected that tho reduction of beer duty would increase consumption, and 1 hia proved correct. Tho actual amount consumed was 21 million barrels, an increase of G per cent, on the consumption of tho previous year. High prices checked the consumption of tea. The estimate for 1923-24 was 338 million pounds at the reduced rales of duty. Tho actual quantity retained for consumption was only 377 million pounds. About 8 per cent, was of Empire origin. Nearly 1,500,000 tons of sugar was used in 1922-23, and this figure fell to 1,450,000 last year. It ia noted that the average retail price of granulated sugar, which varied from sid to Old per lb in 1922-23, varied from 6Jd to 7JI in 1923-21. About 25 per cent, of the total was Empire-grown sugar. There was a great increase in Britain’© tobacco bill. The estimate was put at 123.000. bill. actually it. rose to 129.000. 0091 b, yielding a, revenue of about £51.9 million. Tho report gives the proportion of Empire goods used as:—Tea, 2SB per cent.; coffee, 47; sugar, 25; currants 6i ; raisins, 9; tobaccos, 7.