Thompson — The Gothenburg Liquor System, 



393 



system, but has been conducted for the most part by private in- 

 dividuals, no exact figures as to the total amount of sales are 

 procurable. But, as a criterion by wihich to estimate the in- 

 creasing consumption of ale and wine, I have here a table which 

 has been procured from the Gothenburg police and which shows 

 a record of the testimony given by the persons arrested for 

 drunkenness when questioned as to what kind of liquor con- 

 stituted their last drink: 



These figures, although an indirect basis for a comparison 

 of the consumption of the milder with the stronger liquors, are 

 cited here rather to substantiate the testimony of the Swedish 

 press and of the prominent Swedish authority, Sigfried Wiesel- 

 gren, in their affirmation that the sales of liquors of all kinds 

 have been rapidly increasing during recent years. 



In contrast then to the promising picture painted by Dr. 

 Gould the present condition of the liquor movement in Sweden 

 presents an apparently gloomy state of affairs. Inebriety with 

 all its evils seems to be increasing in that country. ^lust we 

 therefore say that for Sweden at least the Gothenburg system 

 has outlived its usefulness ? It T^-ould, of course, be rash to as- 

 sume that the present tendency is simply a natural and tem- 

 porary reaction from the many preceding 3^ears of increasing 

 sobriety. But it must also be remembered that in seeking the 

 causes which lie behind any aiuount of drunkenness, we are 

 dealing with a subject so intinjjately interwoven with economic 

 and ethical conditions, that it is folly to press too eagerly in one 

 and only one direction. 



