BOOM IN LIQUOR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 934, 2 December 1933, Page 21 (Supplement)

BOOM IN LIQUOR.

U.S. Places Advance Orders for Alcohol. 'END OF PROHIBITION. By ROGER BATCIIELDER, NEW YORK, October 15. CARGO of wines and liquors valued at not less than 5,000,000 dollars will be outside the twelve-mile limit off Sandy Hook twAnty-four hours after the expected official repeal of the Prohibition Amendment, as a result of a full-page advertisement in all the New York newspapers offering | every variety of stimulant. If the orders continue to come in as they have immediately following the publication of the advertisement, the cargo of the ship may exceed 10,000,000 dollars in wholesale value. An official of Park and Tilford, the firm which electrified the city and ap, parently the entire country by giving advance quotations “ for delivery if and when repeal comes,” and asking only ten dollifrs advance payment for each case ordered, said to-day that the replies indicate the country from qne end to the other wants liquor, and wants it in a hurry. An interesting feature of the orders is the demand for imported gin. The writers indicate they do not want gin of American manufacture. Apparently “ fed up ” with the bath-tub variety, they are willing to pay 2 or three dollars a l>ottle for imported stock. And that dees not mean that only New York society is demanding the best. It holds true for Maine, Kansas, Texas; for people who scrawled their names and addresses on a piece of cheap note, paper and put a 10 dollar bill in an envelope. The greatest demand everywhere was for Scotch whisky, with imported gins and brandies following. On the wine list, champagne is naturally the leader. Those who have been drinking exalted apple-juice are for a binge with real “ bubble-water,” or they may be planning to hoard it in case of another drought. After champagne come sherries and ports, all of the costlier brands, with sparkling burgundy another favourite amongst the elite. The rural folk want their hard liquor; the cities are ordering mostly wines. The prices advertised, subject only to the addition of the Government tax, range from 69.50 dollars and 67.50 dollars a case for fourteen-vear-old American whisky and Martel’s “ Cordon Bleu ” cognac to a mere 16.50 dollars for the mild St Julien. Canadian whiskies approximate the same, and rum will go at from 27 dollars to 30 dollars. Burgundies range from 24 dollars, but most people want the older and finer Chambertin at 41 dollars. The final cost of the liquor will depend on the Government and State taxes which may be imposed. There is a tax on imported whisky of 14.77 dollars a case by Government proviso. This does not take into account the rulings of the several States, however, though it has now been determined that a case of good gin would cost in New York approximately 28

dollars. That does not mean, moreover, that Maine cannot, for instance, place a State tax of 5, 10. 20 or 100 dollars when its legislature convenes, or that Kansas mav not decree that light Bordeaux shall not have a State tax which will make the beverage as expensive as whisky. (Copyright by the “ Star ” and the N.A.N.A. All rights reserved.)