Our Drink Bill
October 20, 1906
Summary
The Planet gives statistics about the rise of alcoholic use and costs in the United States since 1904.
Transcription
Our Drink Bill
What the United States Spends Annually for Stimulating Beverages
According to figures prepares by the American Grocer, the amount expended by Americans last year on alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, and cocoa, was close to $1,549,000,000-- an increase in five years of more than 21 percent., while the population of the country during the same period advanced less than one-third of that percentage. These figures make no allowance for water, milk, soda water and other combinations of so-called “temperance drinks,” an enormous quantity of which are consumed in this country. Contrasted with 1904, the figures last year show an increase in the use of malt liquors and the milder stimulants, such as tea and coffee, with a slight decrease in the use of spirituous liquors. It is estimated that the per capita expenses for stimulating beverages last year in this country was $18.03, alcoholic stimulants contributing about 416 of this amount. The per capita consumption of spirits was as high in 1883 as it is today. These figures are most surprising when it is remembered that a larger proportion of the people are temperate. The fact that the per capita consumption of beer is 18.5 gallons per year, or more than six cases of beer for every man, woman, and child in the country becomes the more significant when allowance is made for those who drink no beer at all.
In 1905 our national drink bill was so great for alcoholic beverages alone that it would have paid the ordinary expenditures of the government, and left a balance sufficient almost to wipe out the interest bearing indebtedness of the nation.-- Zion’s Herald.
What the United States Spends Annually for Stimulating Beverages
According to figures prepares by the American Grocer, the amount expended by Americans last year on alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, and cocoa, was close to $1,549,000,000-- an increase in five years of more than 21 percent., while the population of the country during the same period advanced less than one-third of that percentage. These figures make no allowance for water, milk, soda water and other combinations of so-called “temperance drinks,” an enormous quantity of which are consumed in this country. Contrasted with 1904, the figures last year show an increase in the use of malt liquors and the milder stimulants, such as tea and coffee, with a slight decrease in the use of spirituous liquors. It is estimated that the per capita expenses for stimulating beverages last year in this country was $18.03, alcoholic stimulants contributing about 416 of this amount. The per capita consumption of spirits was as high in 1883 as it is today. These figures are most surprising when it is remembered that a larger proportion of the people are temperate. The fact that the per capita consumption of beer is 18.5 gallons per year, or more than six cases of beer for every man, woman, and child in the country becomes the more significant when allowance is made for those who drink no beer at all.
In 1905 our national drink bill was so great for alcoholic beverages alone that it would have paid the ordinary expenditures of the government, and left a balance sufficient almost to wipe out the interest bearing indebtedness of the nation.-- Zion’s Herald.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Emma Roberts
Citation
“Our Drink Bill,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/769.