The drink peril in Scotland / by Arthur Sherwell.

  • Arthur Sherwell
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The drink peril in Scotland / by Arthur Sherwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    34/70 (page 30)
    for the weak. Mr Arthur Chamberlain, the Chair- man of the Birmingham licensing justices, whose words on this point are entitled to special respect, says^:—Competition among Licence Holders to extract a living for two where there is only room for one is the most important cause [of drunkenness] and this can best be dealt with by reducing the number of licences. The practice of giving the 'long puir is always an indication of the absence of a legitimate demand, and is most objectionable. I have heard of cases where the business of a house has been increased from three to thirty barrels a week by this method—of course the quality of the beer suffers, and the neighbouring licence holders must in their own defence follow suit, thus an area of drunkenness is at once created. Nor does the experience of Mr Chamberlain stand alone. It is confirmed in the most explicit terms by the Trade itself. Mr James, the President of the Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse Wine, Spirit and Beer Trade Protection Society, who was also formerly a member of the Executive Council of the L.V. National Defence League, writing in 1885 said:—Any person of ordinary intelligence who has been in the trade for a period of twelve months must and does know that the large number of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor is the principal cause of a considerable portion of the 1 Licensing in the City of Birmingham.