18 MAY 1918, Page 3

The fourth Report of the Liquor Control Board shows that

the decline of drunkenness still continues, thanks chiefly to the re- strictions imposed on the sale of spirits. In the scheduled areas of Great Britain, including ninety-five per cent. of the population, the average weekly number of convictions for drunkenness was 3,956 in the four weeks preceding the issue of the restrictive Order in 1916. But in the four weeks ending with March 24th last the average weekly number of convictions was only 1,200. To have reduced drunkenness by more than two-thirds is a feat of which Lord D'Abemon and his colleagues may be proud. It has con- tributed materially towards the winning of the war, for a few drunken men may throw a whole factory or shipyard out of gear for a day. Would that own more had been done