Health and Temperance

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 18, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 44.

Health and Temperance.

ALCOHOLISM, CRIME, AND INSANITY.

THE time must soon come when the question of the proper method of dealing with the alcohol question will become one for statesmen, rather than, as now, for fanatics and politicians to consider. The facts and statistics recently brought out at the Congress of Alcoholism in Paris illustrate this very well. One of the topics for discussion was the relation of alcoholism to crime. Everyone knows that excessive alcoholic indulgence leads to crime, but the attempt was made to show a direct relation between the two.

The following tables were given. In France the average amount of alcohol consumed per capita was in— 1873-77.........................2.72 liters 1878-82.........................3.53 “ 1883-87.........................3.83 “

The increase of crime was from 172,000 to 195,000. The increase of insanity, from 37,000 to 52,000. In Belgium the figures were: 1851......138 liters beer, 5.87 alcohol, 2.00 wine 1871......159 “ “ 7.66 “ 3.55 “ 1881......170 “ “ 9.75 “ 3.75 “

There was, during this period, almost a doubling in crime, suicide, and insanity.

In Italy a similar increase of alcoholism, crime, and insanity was shown.

In Norway, since 1844, the amount of alcohol consumed has gradually been reduced from ten liters per inhabitant to four liters (in 1876), with a corresponding decrease of crime.

The above figures are certainly very striking, and it is particularly instructive to learn that the decrease of crime and alcoholism in Norway has been due, not to prohibition, but to lessening the number of licenses, increasing the tax on spirits, and the temporary depression in business.

It will not do, however, to trace all the increase of crime and insanity to alcohol. In Bern, for example, where there are only four saloons to one thousand inhabitants, crimes were more numerous than in Zurich, where the ratio is twelve to one thousand. Professor Vauderby, of Liege, asserts that the increase of the tax on spirits in Belgium has had but a slight result; and Dr. Icovesco, of Roumania, asserted that in a district in his country, where a large number of saloons were closed, alcoholism continued to increase.

Such exceptions must be borne in mind, but on the whole it seems to be quite certain that a high tax, or license, and a reduction in the number of saloons and total amount of alcohol consumed, is followed by a diminution in crime.

The statistics of some of our own cities carry out this view.—Medical Record.