On the European continent, liquor legisla tion was not of a drastic nature before the war. In France, licenses were cheap and easily ob tainable. There was estimated to be a wine shop for every 40 of the population. As in Germany, saloons were open at all hours of the night. In Russia, the government took over the vodka traffic in 1894 and made it a complete government monopoly. During the next 20 years the consumption of liquors rose over 500 per cent. In September 1914 the sale of all spirits was prohibited by imperial ukase. Shortly afterward the sale of vodka was pro hibited "for ever' in Russia, yet that industry is to-day as flourishing as ever. Boys and girls began to drink spirits while yet at school, be tween the ages of 8 and 13. Under the old regime several legislative experiments were made to lessen the drink evil, though with small result. In Belgium and Holland, mild legisla tion and cheapness of alcohol were responsible for enormous annual drink bills. In Italy and the Balkans, as in France, the profusion of vineyards makes wine the principal beverage. The cheaper kinds are but lightly taxed and re strictions were practically non-existent. Local option obtains in Sweden and Norway. Early in the 19th century every farmer and peasant in Sweden was permitted to manufacture brandy for a small license fee. Brandy be came so cheap, abundant and readily procur able that an epidemic of intoxication swept over the country. Vain attempts were made to check that by penalties on drunkenness and limitation of production. What came to be known as the Gothenburg system (q.v.) origi nated in Sweden and is to-day largely practised in Scandinavia. In the self-governing British dominions local option generally prevails. Ac cording to the China Medical Journal of July 1918, cording is a general impression that the suppression of the opium traffic is leading to an increased consumption of alcohol." Liquor
legislation has existed in China for thousands of years, one ancient ordinance forbidding more than three persons drinking together without special cause and license. In 1918 distilleries and breweries were spread all over China, in addition to which the farmers manufactured large quantities of alcoholic liquors for home consumption.
Bibliography.— Black, H. C., 'A Treatise on the Laws regulating the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors' (Saint Paul, Minn., 1892) ; Carter, H., 'The Control of the Drink Trade: a contribution to national efficiency 1915-17' (New York and London 1918) ; Eaton, E. L., 'Winning the Fight against Drink' (New York 1912) ; Fanshawe, E. L., 'Liquor 'Legislation in the United States and Canada' (London 1893) ; Joyce, H. C., 'The Law Relating to Intoxicating Liquors) (Al bany, N. Y., 1910) ; Kelynack, Dr. T. N., 'The Drink Problem in its Medico-Sociological As pects' (New York 1909) ; McKenzie, F., 'Sober by Act of Parliament' (London 1896) ; Mida's 'Epitome of all Liquor Laws of every State in the Union> (Chicago 1913) ; Shadwell, A., 'Drink, Temperance and Legislation) (New York 1915) ; Tompson, F. W., 'High License, a critical examination of the license duties pre vailing in the United Kingdom and in the Unit ed States' (London 1909); Walker, J., 'The Commonwealth as Publican: an examination of the Gothenburg System' (ib. 1902) ; Webb, S. and B., 'The History of Liquor Licensing in England 1700-1830) (London 1903) ; Wines, F. H., 'The Liquor Problem in its Legislative Aspects' (New York 1897) ; Woollen, W. W., 'Intoxicating Liquors: The Law relating to the Traffic in Intoxicating Liquors and Drunken ness' (2 vols., Cincinnati 1910).