Mr. Wilson, the Secretary of the United Kingdom Alliance, states
that the "-national drink bill" for 1918 was the highest on record, though the consumption, measured in terms of absolute alcohol, was unusually small. Tor thin beer and watered spirits, wino and cider, the country paid last year at least £259,300,000, as compared with £166,000,000 in 1913, and the Trade reaped amazing profits. On beer, for example, since March last the brewers were able, by reducing the strength, to pay the doubled duty and yet make an additional profit of over £2 a barrel. The revenue from Liquor Duties in 1918 was £48,600,000, or 19 per cent, of the drink bill, as compared with £60,700,000, or 33 per sent. of -the drink bill, in 1915; the difference gives some measure of the Trade's harvest. Mr. Wilson says that the consumption, as represented by absolute alcohol, was only 37,000,000 gallons, as compared with 92,000,000 gallons in 1913. We are impressed, however, with the vast expenditure. High prices did not discourage the drink habit, for high wages counteracted any effect that they might have had.
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