1915 was a turning point
January 7, 2008 by knutalbert
Not for the war, perhaps, but for British beer. Ron has recently shown how consumption peaked in 1914, and the Times fills in the dots between the figures by reprinting their editorial of 7 January 1915. It’s a war tax, of course:
The fall in the consumption of beer, as shown by the output of some of the leading breweries, has been nearly double Mr. Lloyd Georges’s estimate. For instance, the output of one large brewery from November 23 to December 31 was 7,895 barrels, as compared with 10,566 barrels for the corresponding period last year. If this decrease is maintained the company estimate a net loss, after taking into consideration the increased price charged, of £14,000 to £15,000 per annum. While the takings of licensed houses show, generally speaking, a reduction both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, they also show a noticeable transferance of business from beer to spirits and cider. The increase in the drinking of spirits is most marked in towns and cities. In country districts the agricultural classes have substituted cider for beer. This year has been one of the best ever known for the apple cider crop. A licence is required to sell cider, but it pays no duty.
No war tax in 2008, but the sales are tumbling again. This time it does not seem to be intended from Her Majesty’s Government. And my 21st century spell checker does not like transferance .
I have a whole article dedicated to WW I and government persecution of beer drinkers:
http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/beer1917.htm
It’s interesting to note just how much unrest beer shortages and high prices caused.
Something similar happened in the early 1930’s when there was a sharp increase in the tax on beer. Consumption fell so much the government was actually taking in less money than before the hike.