CANTEEN', is a refreshment-house in a barrack, for the use of the soldiers. The chief articles of food are supplied to the troops direct by the government; but wine, malt liquor, and small grocery-wares, the soldier is left to buy for himself; and the C. is, or is intended to be, a shop where he can make these purchases economically without the necessity of going beyond the precincts of the barrack. No soldier is obliged to buy anything at the C. ; he may lay out his small sums elsewhere if he prefer. Formerly, the canteens were under civilians called canteen-tenants, and spirits were sold. Between the years 1836 and 1845, it was found that, among 112 canteens in the United Kingdom, the rent and head-money paid varied from £4 per annum (one at Guernsey) to £1344 per annum (one at Woolwich); they brought in collectively to the government about £70,000 annually. Great intoxication having resulted from the sale of spirits at the canteens, the war office prohibited such sale in 1847; as a consequence, the rents had to be lowered to the extent of £20,000 in the following year, the mutineers finding their profits much reduced. The rent paid was found to be injurious to the soldiers, who were charged
higher prices within the barrack than without, and who were thence driven to places where dangerous temptations are at hand. The result of this system being undeniably bad and demoralizing, the war office now makes the C. a regimental establishment, con trolled by a committee of officers and with a canteen-sergeant as salesman. Pensioned non-commissioned officers may be appointed canteen-sergeants. The profits are applied for the benefit of the men of the corps.
In French barracks, the C. is a sort of club-room for the whole regiment. The eantineer is a non-commissioned officer, who acts merely as an agent for all, selling the liquors and commodities at prime cost.