Temperance

France. The temperance movement is directed mainly against spirits; the minister of commerce recently prohibited publicity concerning wines and spirits in post offices and on all administra tive documents.

Germany. A strong movement in favOur of local option is in progress.

Holland. The minister of labour has introduced a licensing bill, providing for local option.

Hungary. The licensing laws have been amended by a pro vision prohibiting the sale of drink to persons under 18.

Iceland. Iceland has Prohibition, and has experienced the diffi culty of enforcement. Recently the Government has appointed supervisors with a view to enforcing the law more effectually.

Italy. The most interesting movement in Italy is one favoured by the Government for manufacturing non-alcoholic drinks from grapes and other fruits. The Ministry of Labour has forbidden the use of all kinds of alcoholic drinks in factories.

Norway. In 1927 Norway, by popular vote, gave up Prohibi tion of spirits in favour of local option.

Poland. The temperance organizations are active and made their first entrance into the electoral field at the last general election by urging electors to vote only for candidates in favour of reform legislation.

Rumania. The Government has in hand a bill for "progressive prohibition," whereby licenced houses will be reduced and gradu ally closed until in 12 years' time there will be none.

Russia. In Russia, where the Government monopoly of the manufacture and sale of vodka, which ceased in the war, has been restored, complaints of drunkenness and illicit distillation are rife; but the Government is too dependent on the revenue from vodka to give it up.

Sweden. During the war spirits were severely rationed, with the result of encouraging illicit distillation. After the war the country returned to the system of disinterested management, known as the Gothenburg system, as modified by Dr. Bratt.

Switzerland. There appears to be a conflict between the Federal Council and the temperance organizations. The former has intro duced a bill in the national parliament, giving peasants the right to distil their own fruit, but providing that any excess, not re quired for domestic use, should be handed over to the liquor monopoly. This is opposed by the temperance societies.

Turkey. Prohibition was abandoned by Turkey in 1924, in favour of a Government monopoly.

Australia. The Prohibition movement is strong, but the wine business, which has become extensive and lucrative, is against it. The States have their own liquor systems, decided by popular vote ; but no State has yet voted for Prohibition. Queensland voted in 1922 for continuance of licences. New South Wales has had no poll. Victoria will poll in 193o, West Australia voted against Prohibition in 1925.

New Zealand. New Zealand adopted local option in 1893 and 12 electorates secured no licence.

Canada. The greatest reaction against Prohibition is shown by Canada, which has repealed it in one province after another, except Nova Scotia, mostly in favour of Government control, though in some provision is made for local option. Newfoundland, after trying Prohibition for five years, has given it up for Government sale.

Science and

1916 the Liquor Control Board appointed a scientific advisory committee, which reported in 1918 and furnished a "review of the existing state of scientific knowl edge regarding the action of alcohol on the human organism" as a "provisional basis for further research." This review was valu able, because it put together in a systematic way a large number of observations occurring only in various scientific journals. The committee continued the further research, with the addition of two members, and in 192o prepared a revised version, which was not, however, published. In 1921 en the dissolution of the Control Board the Medical Research Council were invited by the home secretary to re-appoint the committee as one of their own investi gation committee, and so to preserve the continuity of the work. They did so, and in 1924 published a revised version of their re port, together with the two prefaces written in 1917 and 192o by Lord D'Abernon, chairman of the Control Board and of the ad visory committee.

See also PROHIBITION, LOCAL OPTION, LICENSED VICTUALLER,