Christmas will not be dry

Now there's good news. Though there was bad news, too. especially if you lived outside London.

"CHRISTMAS WILL NOT BE "DRY"
LITTLE WINE, BUT PLENTY OF BEER
Recent fears that this will be a "dry" Christmas have happily been dispelled. Although thgre is a severe shortage of wines and spirits there should be adequate supplies of beer.

Captain A. J. Dyer, Chairman of the National Consultative Council of the Retail Liquor Trade, said: "The same amount of bottled beer will be available in London this Christmas time as hitherto — and there will be plenty of draught beer.

"In the provices although beer is still virtually rationed, there will no further curtailment. With a return to cooler weather the shortage generally has been alleviated.

IN A JUG?
Many people may, have to carry their Christmas beer home in jugs if bottled supplies run short'

"There is still a serious shortage of glasses, despite the fact that the Board of Trade have increased our war-time quota — one-third oft pre-war supplies - by eight or nine per cent.

"There will be very little sherry or port, and spirits Will be shared out among regular customers."

A leading brewer said: "There is no reason to anticipate either a decrease of an increase in Christmas beer supplies." "
Lichfield Mercury - Friday 26 December 1941, page 3.

That's the first time I've seen a specific mention of the beer supply situation being better in London than elsewhere. I'm not sure why that should be, Other than that London always gets preferential treatment.

Fetching beer in a jug makes sense if bottled supplies run out. It's also cheaper to buy draught in a jug than bottled beer.

It's no wonder there are so many complaints by publicans about stolen glasses if they were only allowed 33% of the pre-war number. It also explains why there are so many court cases for seemingly petty offences of nicking a few glasses from a pub.

What's really odd is the date of this article: Boxing Day. Which seems rather later for a piece of news like this.