Show Repeal Celebrates Its Fifth Birthday But Nation Still Suffers a Hangover Heavy Henvy Liquor Consumption Nets U. U S S. S Coffers 3 Billion Dillion Dollars I By JOSEPH JOSEl W W. LaBINE Five years ago on December December Decem Decem- 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 leveling leveling lev lev- eling cling off oft for the first time in a half-decade half that has brought the federal government government govern govern- 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 collective tonsils This was more than we spent for education the same year Poured out equally for every man woman child and infant in the nation last years year's per capita consumption of alcoholic beverages would be something something something some some- thing like the following One One and a half haU pints of light wine Four gin cocktails Four our Four Scotch highballs Three pints of sherry Two Two and a quarter quarts of ot 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 us which accounts for the 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 Inspired Inspired In In- by the consumption of 01 liquor This scene also oIso shows an annual Income for the United States treasury treas ury of some a year from liquor taxes approximately as much as the entire nation pays In personal income levies Enter the Female Barfly On the other hand band are Indisputable Indisputable able statistics connecting liquor with automobile accidents crime and Immorality And not the least of these woes is the feminine barfly whoso birth is chronicled by the Keeley Institute of Dwight ht Ill Mr Martin Nelson secretary of the Institute points out that while total patients increased 45 per cent during the first 10 months of 1038 1938 as compared with the similar period pe pe- pe nod In to 1933 1833 women patients have shown a gain of per cent during the same period It Is undoubtedly true that an increasing number of women have become habitual drinkers in recent years Mr Nelson comments Prohibition removed drinking from the bar room to the living room where wives learned to tipple Repeal Repeal Re Re- peal returned drinking to the saloon and wives followed their husbands A 5 l re te got tul a reason to 10 corn com plain ain Theres There's no rio fun Jun m in this hil life Of 01 course I t have hare lUre plenty pleny of oj leisure but bu youre you're never neter around to 0 play ay mill lull or go gf for fora a walk so 0 do I Ilo do Ire Well lets let's find a good book u w j r f 1 i 4 p t i. i SSi tY cI SS'S 55 iv 5 5 y r ABOVE Whereas ABOVE Whereas almost almod all prohibition pre drinking teas confined to 10 the saloon aloon much macis prohibition post drinking drink ing lag takes lake place in the he home Liquor stores like this do a big business budne RIGHT Andrew J. J l' l Minnesota congressman con can gressman greman those prohibition amendment to 10 the Ile Constitution made 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 serious seri serl ous one The Keeley institute treated more patients of all classes in 1936 1036 and 1937 than at any time In to the previous pre years But Dut Mr Nelson does not place all responsibility for this condition on the open saloon or the ease with which liquor may be bought at retail stores We feel he reports that the country's country Improved financial condition condition condi condi- tion is also responsible Our experience ex over nearly 60 years including in to- eluding four major depressions and recoveries has shown that In to time of prosperity the number of pa pat patI increases During depressions I jt t declines Drys Are Still Strong Strone This would Indicate the problem is getting worse despite a leveling of oft in liquor consumption this year With business definitely on th the upswing up up- swing taverns and retail stores are destined for greater patronage But Dut this increase will come in metropolitan itan centers not In the small towns It is significant that the United States can still boast a strong dry faction whose grass roots are In to rural areas with special emphasis sis on the Midwest and South Temperance forces have grown stronger since repeal In that year state referendums showed 30 per percent percent percent cent of us were dry A 1936 1938 private private vate survey raised this figure to 33 per cent and last spring It stood at 34 This looks like a steadily growing growIng growing grow grow- ing sentiment but it is counteract counteract- i I II I I tv I I 1 II Heres ere an en idea f Ill I'll try Iry my hand at a making musical orches arrangements for Jor your our tnt rat This TIti is a doggy little its tune lune no noI I call all Hark to 10 the e Farm And AntI thais that's Icher I might just ju as aswell II well itch go myself p k S foJ foJt t b 1 rt I ed by consumption figures also by bythe bythe bythe the steady decrease of dry states Today there are but four commonwealths commonwealths common 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 legalize legalize legal legal- ize liquor and put men back to work also adding materially to tax revenue Bootleggers Still Stilt Busy If repeal has succeeded in the latter lat ter respect by netting federal state and local coffers several billion dollars dollars dol dol- lars It U has not wiped out bootleg bootleg- ging Else in South Carolina Georgia Alabama and Florida would not be wrecking some stills each month nor would 56 men have been indicted in New NewYork NewYork NewYork York last December 21 on a charge of defrauding the government of 1 in liquor taxes If anything legalized liquor has minimized the difficulties of engaging in illicit liquor trade despite everything state and federal agents can do But Dut bootlegged liquor is cheap liquor and this year aged whisky stocks were so Increased that prices could be lowered If men must have alcohol they can now get it from legitimate dealers for 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 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 I others remained open after alter closing hours I Psychologists point out that under strict law enforcement our per capita capita cap cap- capI I ita liquor consumption will show a steady decline through the years as men and women learn how to drink Intelligently Perhaps the 1938 leveling of oil oft is a turning point but after five years of repeal John Barleycorn is still giving America a headache headache and and too many hang overs ovens 0 e Western Newspaper Union 4 t i. S Sl 4 l 5 5 s' s L What Mr Masters staying stay slay ing home tonight Jr Well ell ad didn't you say ay so 10 before Sore Of OJ course oure not nolo I think youre you're sire but bul if iJ 11 I 1 may give git other logs log a 0 learning warning stay stay limy away from front orchestra leaders |