THE following questions were sent out to several American insurance companies by a New York paper:
"As a rule, other things being equal, do you consider the habitual user of intoxicating beverages as good an insurance risk as the total abstainer? If not, why not?"
Extracts from replies are given below:
"No; drink diseases the system."
"No; drink is destructive to health."
"No; less vitality and recuperative power."
"No; use tends to shorten life."
"No; drink shortens life."
"No; drink cuts short life expectations."
"No; drink is dangerous to health and longevity."
"No; predisposes to disease."
"No; reduces expectation of life nearly two thirds."