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LONDON:

ABIAN SOCIETY, 3 CLEMENT'S INN, STRAND, W.C.

OCT. 1898. FOURTH EDITION REPRINTED JULY 1908.

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ment of its Rules and the following publications can be obtained from the
Secretary, at the Fabian Office, 3 Clement's Inn, London, W.C.
FABIANISM AND THE EMPIRE: A M
FABIAN ESSAYS IN SOC2

Paper cover, 1/-
FABIAL

Tracts, each 16

Liquor Licensing at Home and Abroad.

INTRODUCTION TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

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This Tract was published in 1898, and the second and revised edition was issued The complaint on page 5 in 1899. The present (fourth) edition is a reprint from stereo plates of the 1899 edition, In 1896, the with the exception of the first and last pages. The reader must therefore take note "for fifteen years past,' that certain statements in the text are no longer correct. (last paragraph) that accurate information about Continental licensing laws is inaccessible is not now just. The phrases on page 6, last year for which the figures are available," must be read as from 1899 and not 1908. Facts Much fuller information about the Russian system can be found in The Case for Muni- ism is. cipal Drink Trade and other books named in the appendix.

The Licensing Act, 1904.

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fealth. rand Rural This Act modifies the account of the law on pages 11 and 12. The power to refuse Abolito renew licences except on account of offences is taken from the justices in petty sessions and given to the quarter sessions; but refusals to renew now carry compensation payable out of a fund raised by a charge made on all the other licences in the area. nics New licences can only be granted by quarter sessions; may be limited to a term not ge. exceeding seven years; and the monopoly value of all such licences must be secured Life At the time of writing a far-reaching for public purposes by such conditions attached to the licence as the justices think bestil fitted to attain this end. Thus the old scandal of conferring valuable privileges on private persons has been brought to an end. Bill to amend the law further is before Parliament.

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THE law which determines what the people have to pay for theithe
drink, and when and where they can get drunk, is necessarily c
interest to all; and as, in the nature of things, such a law my
be wholly satisfactory to few, it is certain to be the subject of ma
schemes for reform. But no scheme can be wisely prepared exc and
in the light of the history which recounts how the law came indon
being and what caused it to take its present form. Moreover, alnmine
every sort of device for organizing the liquor traffic has already etro-
tried; and in social science one experiment is worth a dozen the
and one valid precedent outweighs invincible arguments.

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The growth of social reforms depends upon light even more ary upon heat. It is vain to form societies and to hold demonstrat to pass resolutions and to draft bills, if the promoters of these liza prises have no thorough understanding of the problem the A ndertaking to solve.

Early English History.

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The earliest English temperance reformer of whom I ar 100. record is Archbishop Dunstan. In the year 958 King Edgad. net. ociety: ›n his advice, suppressed all alehouses except one in every V Then comes that long period vaguely called the Mid Fiscal uring which the price of ale seems to have been fixed bics. By ces, chiefly in accordance with what is known as the But, as the title of the Act indicate Guard BoBread and Ale. merely part of the medieval system of fixing prices as weils. 57, by legal enactment.

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Selling "corrupt" wines was penalized by statute in quarter
power was given to any two justices to stop the co
event the misuse of barley in time

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No temperance legislation is recorded during the reign of Henry VIII., and drinking appears to have grown apace. His son, Edward VI., has the credit of establishing the existing licensing system.

Licensing Established.

It was enacted by 6 Edwd. VI., cap. 25, in the year 1552. Forasmuch," says the preamble of this Act, "as intolerable hurts nd troubles to the commonwealth of this realm doth daily grow and crease through such abuses and disorders as are had and caused ը, n common alehouses and other houses called tippling houses," 5 herefore it was enacted that the justices should have direct control S-over the said houses by means of licences.

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he The artistic and literary talents of the Tudor period found an 8. utlet even in Acts of Parliament, and one is almost inclined to urmise that excuses were invented for passing and repassing these Acts in order to afford the opportunity for composing their icturesque and graphic preambles. Anyway, in 1554, less than wo years later, a new law was enacted, "for the avoiding of many tconveniences, much evil rule, and common resort of misruled rea.ersons used and frequented in many taverns newly set up in very noteat numbers in back lanes, corners, and suspicious places within urede city of London and divers towns and villages within this realm." he law provided that no wine should be sold without a licence d that no licence should be granted except in cities, boroughs and rket towns. Moreover, in no case was any wine sold to be drunk the premises. The distribution of these licences is interesting. place was to have more than two, except Bristol, which had six, the rk eight, Westminster three and London forty. It would appear ly at this legislation was not without effect; for, according to Camden, mo wrote in 1581, Englishmen were "of all the northern nations mae most commended for their sobriety," and in the reign of Elizaexcth drunkenness was regarded as disgraceful. The only liquor Act i Parliament in her reign which need be recorded is one forbidding alnishmen to distil whisky in Pembrokeshire !

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But it seems certain, according to several authorities quoted by edecky, that the wars in the Netherlands taught Englishmen a habit and admiration for, excess in drinking. And the great Queen was re trcely buried when Parliament undertook a new attempt at represrate legislation. The preamble of this Act, passed by the first Parliaeent of James I. in 1603, is worth quoting:

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"Whereas the ancient true and principal se of inns, alehouses, d other victualling houses was the receipt, ef, and lodging of waying persons travelling from place to plar and for such supply of wants of such people as are not able by eater quantities to make ir provision of victuals, and not meant the entertainments and bouring of lewd and idle people, to spe and consume their money their time in lewd and drunken maier," it is enacted that a penof 10/- shall be paid by any publican suffering "an inhabitant to THE and tipple in his house," and a fine of 40/- shall be paid to the

History of England in the Ei teenth Century, pp. 476, etc. Other statements in

ISHEDt are derived from this source

Secretary, at the Fabian Office. 3 C

NISM

Liquor Licensing at Home and Abroad.

INTRODUCTION TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

This Tract was published in 1898, and the second and revised edition was issued in 1899. The present (fourth) edition is a reprint from stereo plates of the 1899 edition, with the exception of the first and last pages. The reader must therefore take note that certain statements in the text are no longer correct. The complaint on page 5 (last paragraph) that accurate information about Continental licensing laws is inaccessible is not now just. The phrases on page 6, "for fifteen years past," "In 1896, the last year for which the figures are available," must be read as from 1899 and not 1908. Much fuller information about the Russian system can be found in The Case for Municipal Drink Trade and other books named in the appendix.

The Licensing Act, 1904.

This Act modifies the account of the law on pages II and 12. The power to refuse to renew licences except on account of offences is taken from the justices in petty sessions and given to the quarter sessions; but refusals to renew now carry compensation payable out of a fund raised by a charge made on all the other licences in the area. New licences can only be granted by quarter sessions; may be limited to a term not exceeding seven years; and the monopoly value of all such licences must be secured for public purposes by such conditions attached to the licence as the justices think best' fitted to attain this end. Thus the old scandal of conferring valuable privileges or private persons has been brought to an end. At the time of writing a far-reaching Bill to amend the law further is before Parliament.

nto

THE law which determines what the people have to pay for theist drink, and when and where they can get drunk, is necessarily ny interest to all; and as, in the nature of things, such a law mupt be wholly satisfactory to few, it is certain to be the subject of ma schemes for reform. But no scheme can be wisely prepared exc nost in the light of the history which recounts how the law came i 'peen being and what caused it to take its present form. Moreover, alries, every sort of device for organizing the liquor traffic has already la tried; and in social science one experiment is worth a dozen the han and one valid precedent outweighs invincible arguments. hons,

The growth of social reforms depends upon light even more Interupon heat. It is vain to form societies and to hold demonstraty are to pass resolutions and to draft bills, if the promoters of these e prises have no thorough understanding of the problem the indertaking to solve.

Early English History.

can find r, acting The earliest English temperance reformer of whom I village. record is Archbishop Dunstan. In the year 958 King Edgadle Ages, on his advice, suppressed all alehouses except one in every y the JusThen comes that long period vaguely called the Mid Assize of uring which the price of ale seems to have been fixed bs, this was ces, chiefly in accordance with what is known as thell as wages Bread and Ale. But, as the title of the Act indicate merely part of the medieval system of fixing prices as w331; and in by legal enactment. nmon selling of scarcity.

Selling "corrupt" wines was penalized by statute in 1494 power was given to any two justices to stop the Pale, probably to prevent the misuse of barley

No temperance legislation is recorded during the reign of Henry VIII., and drinking appears to have grown apace. His son, Edward VI., has the credit of establishing the existing licensing system.

Licensing Established.

It was enacted by 6 Edwd. VI., cap. 25, in the year 1552. "Forasmuch," says the preamble of this Act, "as intolerable hurts and troubles to the commonwealth of this realm doth daily grow and increase through such abuses and disorders as are had and caused in common alehouses and other houses called tippling houses," therefore it was enacted that the justices should have direct control over the said houses by means of licences.

The artistic and literary talents of the Tudor period found an outlet even in Acts of Parliament, and one is almost inclined to surmise that excuses were invented for passing and repassing these Acts in order to afford the opportunity for composing their picturesque and graphic preambles. Anyway, in 1554, less than two years later, a new law was enacted, "for the avoiding of many inconveniences, much evil rule, and common resort of misruled persons used and frequented in many taverns newly set up in very great numbers in back lanes, corners, and suspicious places within the city of London and divers towns and villages within this realm." The law provided that no wine should be sold without a licence and that no licence should be granted except in cities, boroughs and market towns. Moreover, in no case was any wine sold to be drunk on the premises. The distribution of these licences is interesting. No place was to have more than two, except Bristol, which had six, York eight, Westminster three and London forty. It would appear that this legislation was not without effect; for, according to Camden, who wrote in 1581, Englishmen were "of all the northern nations the most commended for their sobriety," and in the reign of Elizabeth drunkenness was regarded as disgraceful. The only liquor Act of Parliament in her reign which need be recorded is one forbidding Irishmen to distil whisky in Pembrokeshire !

But it seems certain, according to several authorities quoted by Lecky,* that the wars in the Netherlands taught Englishmen a habit of, and admiration for, excess in drinking. And the great Queen was scarcely buried when Parliament undertook a new attempt at repressive legislation. The preamble of this Act, passed by the first Parliament of James I. in 1603, is worth quoting:

"Whereas the ancient true and principal use of inns, alehouses, and other victualling houses was the receipt, relief, and lodging of way. faring persons travelling from place to place, and for such supply of the wants of such people as are not able by greater quantities to make their provision of victuals, and not meant for the entertainments and harbouring of lewd and idle people, to spend and consume their money and their time in lewd and drunken manner," it is enacted that a penalty of 10/- shall be paid by any publican suffering "an inhabitant to stay and tipple in his house," and a fine of 40/- shall be paid to the

* History of England in the Eighteenth Century, pp. 476, etc. Other statements in the text are derived from this source.

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