THE CUBA REVIEW 



29 



SUGAR AND PROHIBITION 

 By W. D. Home, Ph.D. 



That there will be a direct relation be- 

 tween the prohibition of the use of alco- 

 holic beverages and an increased con- 

 sumption of sugar there can be no doubt. 

 Alcohol owes its popularity to the same 

 basic causes as give sugar its widespread 

 use. The taste is attractive (to some 

 people) and its consumption is followed 

 by various physiological results consid- 

 ered (again, according to the individual) 

 more or less beneficial. 



Subserve Same Basic Uses 



Alcohol is very quickly taken up and 

 diffused through the system, where its 

 rapid oxidation produces a quick return 

 of energy, with the development of about 

 11,200 British thermal units (B.T.U.) per 

 pound of alcohol. Sugar also is quickly 

 assimilated after its preliminary inver- 

 sion by the digestive agents, and its 

 beneficial effects begin to appear in half 

 an hour, with the greater part of the 

 energy developed within two hours. A 

 pound of sugar thus produces about 

 6,944 B.T.U. As a pound of sugar (in- 

 vert) gives rise in fermentation to about 

 .42 lb. of alcohol, it follows that the dy- 

 namic energy developed in the oxidation 

 of this alcohol will be 42 per cent of 

 11,200, or 4,729 B.T.U., or only 68 per 

 cent of that given out by the direct com- 

 bustion of the sugar in the body, without 

 the intermediate conversion into alcohol. 

 This indicates the gain in efficiency in the 

 direct consumption of sugar. 



The quick and enduring energy derived 

 from a sugar diet has been amply demon- 

 strated in numerous experiments and has 

 been fully borne out by experience. 



The growing popularity of sweetened 

 beverages, confectionery, ice cream, etc., 

 has followed closely upon improved 

 methods of manufacture and better facil- 

 ities for transportation. The United 

 States already consumes annually about 

 350,000 tons of sugar in confectionery 

 and 136,000 tons in soft drinks. 



Nearest Allied Stimulant 



It has been a common observation that 

 those individuals who drink much alco- 

 holic liquor do not care for candy. This 

 is only to be expected, in view of the 

 largely similar functions subserved by 



the two substances. It is equally evident 

 that a cessation of alcohol consumption 

 is likely to be accompanied by a hunger 

 for sweets as the most nearly allied sub- 

 stitute. 



The purveyors of sugar-containing 

 specialties, such as candies, soft drinks, 

 ice cream, sweet crackers, glaceed fruits 

 and nuts, should make special efforts to 

 present their wares in attractive and 

 easily available forms so that their use 

 will be even more widely popularized. 



A decided extension of automatic sell- 

 ing devices which would offer a wide 

 variety of sweetened delicacies at suit- 

 able prices will probably prove one of the 

 most advantageous steps in this direction. 

 — Facts About Sugar. 



PERUVIAN SUGAR SITUATION 



The following summary of the sugar 

 situation in Peru at the present time is 

 taken from the Boletin Comercial of the 

 Banco Mercantil Americana del Peru: 



For the past several months the Peru- 

 vian sugar planters have been enjoying 

 the competition of two new markets for 

 their products due to the shortage of 

 crops in Argentina and Mexico. The 

 Argentina statute prohibiting the im- 

 portation of foreign sugars was sus- 

 pended until February 1, 1919, but owing 

 to the international crisis between Peru 

 and Chile this suspension has been pro- 

 longed. These new competitors came 

 into the Peruvian market through force 

 of circumstances, due to the fact that the 

 crops of the other large producing 

 centers were practically all committed to 

 the allies. Being badly in need of sugar 

 they were willing to pay any price within 

 reason to obtain their supplies. This has 

 had the tendency of causing price?, to rise 

 steadily until recent sales for shipment 

 to these countries have been made on the 

 basis of 22s. 6d. [$5.48] f. o. b. Peruvian 

 port. 



However, these heavy purchases on the 

 part of the new buyers have not in any 

 way inconvenienced the allies, because 

 the Cuban crop, which is their greatest 

 source of supply has increased each year. 

 The fact that the sugar equalization 

 board has obligated itself to purchase the 



