ENGLAND'S DRINK BILL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13298, 29 May 1907, Page 6

ENGLAND'S DRINK BILL.

In his annual estimate of the amount of money spent in drink in the United Kingdom, published by the "Times," Dr Dawson Bums ishows that there was an increase in expenditure last year, though, all things considered, it was not- a large one Hie disturbing element in the matter is that there was a decrease in each of tne preceding six years amounting in the aggregate to £21,759,286, or, allowing for the increase of population, a reduction of £33,844,554.

Dr Burns writes:—"According .to the theory that greater manufacturing activity entails a corresponding expenditure upon intoxicating liquors, the drink bill for 1906 should register a very considerable increase in the year's drinking.. There is an increased expenditure, but it is not con- ' siderable, and let_.ua hope it will prove exceptional. Indeed the expenditure on spiri:a slightly declined by £89,154; but there was an increase on beer of £2,002,341 and on wine £344,783. The net increase of actual expenditure was thus £2,£57,970. But tli-j estimated increase of the population (439,333) ought to enter into the calculation, and doing 'this will reduce the increased proportional expenditure of the year to £6l6,27l—equivalent to per head. The average per head expenditure was £3 15s lljd in 1905, was £3 16s 3d in 19C6—the actula expenditure being £166,425,911 by a population of 43,659,121." Dr Dawson Burns makes several striking deductions from his figures.' For example, the £166,500,000 spent on drink during last year represent about £25,000,000 more than would pay the entire civil and military expenses of the country. Moreover, the average expenditure tier head of the population cannot be taken as an actual one. If the children and the increasing number of abstainers are deducted it is evident that the drink bill is a voluntary tax paid by those who. more or le;s frequently, indulge in a passing gratification, the injurious effects of which are of a permanent character.

He therefore urges: "We have a right to expect that the law, which is ideally the guardian of -the State, will before long do more than it has ever yet attempted for removing, or reducing, public temptations to indulgence in the liquors that are powerless for good and powerful for evil."