Drinking Habits

On Washington D.C., March 14, 1907, a special report tests the number and percent of people drinking bottled beer. Officials of the internal revenue bureau say that the people of this country are largely increasing their consumption of American bottled beers over the last 3 years.

There are many causes for this, but the main one is that the officials attribute it to a greatly increased family use of this beverage, they look upon it with favor s conducing to temperance.

Also, another main cause of this increase, is because people like it, therefore the growing rapidly temperance is a major factor. The amount of alcohol in it is small, and people feel no evil consequences of its use. There is a growing sentiment that temperance is surer and better promoted by the development of a taste for mild drinks than by prohibitive laws. Beer seems to be best adapted to wine culture, yet wine has greater alcoholic strength than beer, it is no as cheap, and, for some reason, American people do not seem to favor it.

Official John Deutsch says, "It is a matter of widespread note, the consumption of beer is increasing a great rate, while the consumption of strong drinks is decreasing, compared to increase of population. I assume that the big increase in consumption of bottled beer is a lack of self control."

In the south about 20 years ago, the whiskey decanter had a prominent place on every sideboard. Instead, bottled beer is stored in refrigerators of many residences. The Marked continual decrease of drunkenness is, to some extent, due to the substitution of beer for strong drink.