Show Repeal Celebrates Its Fifth Birthday But Nation Still Suffers a Hangover I I Heavy U avy Liquor Consumption Nets U. U S. S Coffers 3 Billion Dollars By JOSEPH W. W V. V LaBINE Five years ago on Decem Decem- December December December ber 5 1933 America pulled the cork out of prohibition to the strains of Happy Days Are Here Again This years year's anniversary finds liquor consumption lev lev- leveling leveling eling off for the first time timea in a half decade that has brought the federal govern govern- government government government ment almost three billion dollars in alcohol taxes During the 37 1936 fiscal year alone some worth of the cup that cheers lubricated Americas America's s collective tonsils This was I more than we spent for education the same year Poured out equally for forc eVery c ery man woman child and infant in the nation last years year's per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages would be some some- something something something thing like the following One One and a half hall pints of light wine vine Four Four gin cocktails Four Four Scotch highballs Three pints of sherry Two Two and a quarter quarts of Bourbon rye or corn whisky Fourteen gallons of beer or ale A lot of us didn't drink our share but somebody drank it for us which accounts for the Ule growing alcoholism problem now facing the nation On one side of the repeal picture is the scene of men brought back to work in a thousand industries in in- inspired inspired by the consumption of liquor This scene also shows an annual income for the United States treas treas- treasury treasury treasury I ury of some a year from liquor taxes approximately as much as the entire nation pays in personal income levies I Enter the Female Barfly On the other hand are arc indisputable Indisputable indisputable able statistics connecting liquor with automobile accidents a crime and immorality And not the least of these woes is the feminine barfly whose birth is chronicled by the Keeley institute of Dwight Ill Mr Martin Nelson secretary of the institute points s out that v hUe total patients increased 45 per cent during the first 10 months of 1938 as compared with the similar pe pe- period period pe- pe nod in 1933 women patients have shown a gain of per cent during the same period It is undoubtedly true that an increasing number of ot women have become habitual drinkers in recent years years Mr Nelson comments Prohibition removed drinking from the bar room to the living room where wives learned to tipple Re Re- Repeal Repeal Repeal peal returned drinking to the saloon and wives followed their husbands 1 AfI Y tl m 11 I S I. I f ct ctt k t t. t t l itt ABOVE VE Whereas almost almod all prohibition pre drinking I was tens confined to the saloon aloon much prohibition post drink drink- drinking drinking ing takes lakes place in the home Liquor stores like this do a big business RIGHT Andrew J. J J Minnesota ota con con- congressman congressman gressman whose whoso prohibition amendment to the Constitution made macIe America a theoretically dry nation there Today public complacency about women drinking openly at bars is making the problem of the female inebriate a tragically seri seri- serious serious serious ous one The Keeley Institute treated more patients of all classes in 1936 and 1937 than at any time In the pre pre- previous previous previous years But Mr Nelson does docs not place all responsibility for this condition on the open saloon or the case ease with which liquor may be bought at retail stores We feel he reports that the country's improved financial condi condi- condition condition tion is also responsible Our ex ex- experience experience over nearly 60 years in in- including including eluding four major depressions and recoveries has shown that in time of prosperity the number of pa patients increases During depressions it declines Drys Are Arc Still Strong This would Indicate the problem is getting worse despite a a leveling ing ingoff off in liquor r consumption this yc t. t With bust business definitely on on the t up upswing up swing n c nd retail r tail tores ar t tm designed I f ivl ate age But this tim a m l metropolitan itan centers not In the malf mall t towns D It is significant that United d States can still boast a strong str ng dry faction whose grass roots ro ts are fn In rural areas with special emphasis sis on the Midwest and an South Temperance forces have have grown stronger since repeal In In that year state referendums showed 30 per percent per percent percent cent of us were dry A 1936 private private private vate survey raised this figure to 33 per cent and last spring it stood at 34 This looks like a steadily grow grow- growing growing ing sentiment but it is counteract counteract- S' S frS 5 I S 45 ed by consumption figures also by bythe bythe bythe the steady decrease of dry states Today there are but four common common- commonwealths refusing to legalize liquor Fundamentally the Eighteenth amendment was repealed because 1 bootlegging had developed into a horrifying crime menace and 2 since people appeared determined to drink it seemed feasible to legal legal- legalize legalize legalize ize liquor and put men back to work also adding materially to tax revenue Bootleggers Still Busy S If repeal has succeeded in the thela lat latter lat lat- ter respect by netting n federal state and local coffers c several s ver Verl l billion bi lon aol aol- dollars i lars Ian rs it Jias has not riot wi wiped out o t bootleg- bootleg S. S 'S SS S gw-c gw gur v f 9 r v In South bouth C r O l aa ia a and Florida would not some 50 stills each month rIl nt r tor or would 56 5 men m ri shave have been bee e i indicted i di te in New NewYork NewYork York last December 21 on-a on on oi a charge of i the government of f 1 i In liquor taxes axes axes If anything I lega legalized zed liquor r- r has minimized the difficulties of engaging in illicit liquor liquor II trade despite everything v state and federal agents agent can do cIo But bootlegged liquor is cheap liquor liquor liquor and this year year aged whisky stocks were so Increased that prices prIces' could be lowered If men must have alcohol they can now get it from legitimate dealers for tor about the same price a bootlegger charges Distillers are not completely blind to the evils of repeal in fact many of them boast a social responsibility ty for urging temperance Too often the guilt lies with local law enforcement officers and the Ute tavern keepers At Chicago a group of educators surveyed taverns and found one or more laws being violated in 2122 of them Most were improperly lighted many sold liquor to intoxicated persons or minors others remained open after closing hours Psychologists point out that under strict law Jaw enforcement our per cap cap- capita capita capita ita liquor consumption will show a steady decline through the years as men and women learn how to drink Intelligently Perhaps the Ute 1938 leveling off is a turning point but after five years of repeal John JohnI I Barleycorn is still giving America a headache headache and and too many hang hang- I overs O 0 Western Newspaper Union I |