The Total Prohibition Movement

THE movement for total prohibition has gained in strength everywhere since the banishing of alcohol by the United States of America from its boundaries. The enormous sacrifice made by the United States in declaring all her States “dry” would be readily understood when it is said that nearly a quarter of her total revenue came from the alcohol industry. In the last normal year the industry yielded to the United States Government about £56,000,000 and under war conditions it yielded nearly £160,000,000. The alcohol business, as nearly as can be estimated, contributed £20,000,000 more to the State, country and city incomes, and supported more than 100,000 workers of all kinds, while its ramifications and allied interests ran into incalculable figures. The example set by the US has inspired other countries too. New Zealand is moving towards prohibition. Total prohibition means a great uphill work against vested interests.