If any reader is capable of reducing barrels and gallons to such more easily understood measurements as bottles (or pints) and half-wans, he may obtain a clearer idea than I to the capacity of this country for intoxicating liquor from the news that in the year 1938 the amount of beer retained for home consumption in Southern Ireland was 649,679 barrels.
I make that about a quarter of a barrel for every man, woman and child.
Of spirits, 1,830,976 proof gallons were retained, which represents nearly two-thirds of a gallon each. Our consumption of foreign wines was 459,370 gallons, but of imported cider we used only 18,514 gallons.
Probably 66 per cent. of the population - including children - does not drink at all, so that the annual ration of those who do ought to work out at something like two gallons of whiskey or other spirits, half a gallon of wine, and seven-tenths of a barrel of beer.
Just to complete the story, I may add that such of this drink as was not used in the homes of its purchasers was imbibed under the auspices of 15,901 liquor-licence holders or in the 254 registered clubs.
The Irish Times,
February 25th, 1939.