RUSSIA'S LIQUOR MONOPOLY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XIII, 27 March 1897, Page 395

RUSSIA'S LIQUOR MONOPOLY.

Russia is putting in operation a Govern meut monopoly of the sale of liquor similar in principle to the South Carolina dispensary. The four agricultural provinces of Perm, Oofa, Samara and Orenboorg, in Eastern Russia, with a population of about 10.000,00°, were the first to be placed under the system. Recently eleven other provinces, having 20,000,000 popnla tion, were added, says the Illustrated American, and by July next fully one-half of the European division of the empire will have been included. The system aims to accomplish certain social reforms by supplying pure liquors, doing away with the credit system and placing the sale in more respectable bonses. The Government sells only by tbe flask, and allows no corks to be drawn on the premises where liquor is sold. Students of sociology will watch with deep interest tbe results of this first attempt to restrict, on a large scale and by a strong central Government, the evils of the traffic without at the same time attempting to interfere with the drinking habits of the people.