Bits'n'Bobs - Page 3

Had the Temperance Movement in the UK had their way, there would have been total prohibition of alcohol as in the USA. Fortunately this never came about, but the freedom of some UK beer drinkers was restricted by government legislation.

The Defence Of The Realm Act was passed during the Great War to deal with situations where heavy drinking was deemed to be endangering the war effort. It gave powers to restrict the hours during which pubs could open, or close them and breweries altogether. The area most affected by this legislation was Carlisle which was the nearest town to a large munitions factory at Gretna Green. In order to combat drunkeness among the workers, the local breweries and pubs were nationalised, brewing being concentrated at one site in Carlisle itself.

Drunkeness became illegal and inspectors patrolled the streets. People were forbidden to buy rounds of drinks (how many people do you know that would have felt at home there?) to prevent them from buying several and then consuming the whole lot themselves. Pubs were improved and there was an emphasis on selling food as well.

State control, albeit more and more relaxed, continued until 1973 when brewery and pubs were sold back to the private sector. The brewery was acquired by Theakstons who needed the extra capacity following the real ale boom.

Advertising was low key and the first beermats did not appear until the 1960's. The one illustrated is the last issue from the early 1970's.

In Wales, at the end of the last century at Act of Parliament was passed forbidding pub openings on a Sunday! This situation persisted until the early 1960's when the local population in each district was balloted on the subject of Sunday opening. Not all voted for the latter! It was not until 1998, following the relaxation of licensing regulations in the UK, that all pubs in Wales could open on a Sunday.