"Money in Cocktails"

Waldorf, Viscount Astor, better known as the husband of Nancy, Lady Astor, M. P., appeared last week before the Royal Commission on Licensing to give his expert testimony on the "condition of drinking" in Britain. "The most recent development in drinking," said Lord Astor stroking his chin, "has been the use of cocktails. It is a new habit, and I may add that it is apparently growing. It is a habit that has been created by private enterprise because there is money in cocktails.*

"The drink trade is rather more threatened than it used to be by the temperance wave that is going on all over the world. ... I know at least two Parliamentary candidates who have actually been approached with offers of money from the liquor interests. In 1919 my wife succeeded me in the House of Commons. She made her maiden speech in favor of keeping shorter the hours of the sale of drink. . . . The trade has tried continuously to get her out of public life."

*British cocktails cost 36-c- apiece. Ale, 12-c- a half pint.

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