Drinking habits reflect times No spice for Easter

SIX o’clock closing was introduced in 1917 during World War 1 as a temporary austerity measure (but lasted until 1968); the strength of beer was reduced from 5% to 4% in World War 2, when malt was rationed.

Now, in the war against the coronavirus, most liquor outlets — bars, cafes, restaurants and liquor shops — are closed, although the bureaucrats have decided beverage manufacturers and supermarkets can stay open.

Spirit drinkers have missed out, though, because their tipple is not sold in supermarkets. Their best option is methylated spirits (a favourite of penniless and homeless alcoholics) or alcoholbased hand sanitiser! Good George Brewing in Hamilton, which recently moved into gin and whisky too, has diverted its pure alcohol into bottles of sanitiser — but I have not had the opportunity to taste it . . .

While all liquor outlets other than supermarkets are closed, licensing trust outlets are deemed ‘‘essential’’. These trusts control liquor availability in their district and many do not allow supermarkets to sell beer and wine. But theirs became the only outlets where spirits and ready to drink (RDT) spirit mixes were available. Some have now taken spirits off their shelves.

Between 1893 and 1918, voters in general elections could vote to send their electorate ‘‘dry’’. Voters in Clutha electorate (centred on Balclutha) did in 1893, Mataura (covering Gore, Tapanui and Wyndham) in 1902 and Oamaru and Invercargill in 1905.

The Clutha electorate was abolished in 1927 and absorbed into wet regions. Invercargill went wet in 1943 and then voted for a trust to control its liquor sales, as did voters in Mataura (1955) and Oamaru (1961). But Oamaru is the only one to allow supermarkets to sell beer and wine.

The whole country nearly went dry once in wartime. From 1911 until 1987, voters at general elections also voted for national ‘‘continuance’’ or ‘‘prohibition’’. On election night in 1919, the majority voted for prohibition. But the special votes of World War 1 soldiers still overseas (80% of whom wanted the sale of alcohol to continue) saved the day when they were returned and counted.

Auckland beer drinkers had a taste in 1971 of what prohibition could be like when a sixweek strike by brewery workers at DB and Lion cut beer to a trickle. Taps were dry within days and warehouses were soon emptied.

Some (but not enough) bottles and cans came in from the

South. Few public bars offered wine in those days, but cider was tried as an emergency measure. Imported beers such as Carlsberg and Tuborg, found only in posh bars for hotel guests, were introduced to the masses.

The trouble was that all tap beer at that time was 4%, but the imported stuff was 5% and some of the cider even more powerful: the result was quite staggering — literally.

Dunedin brewery Emerson’s has not made its Taieri George spiced ale this year.

The brew, often described as liquid hot cross buns because of its nutmeg, cinnamon and honey, has been released on March 6 every year since 1995 to commemorate the birth of the late George Emerson, father of brewery founder Richard Emerson.

The brewery has decided to alternate it with Old 95 English bitter. The good news it that there is still some of the 2019 vintage on shelves.

Old 95 English bitter, also first made in 1995, was resurrected in 2017 to mark the brewery’s 25th anniversary.