The whole subject of alcoholic beverages is one difficult of treatment, because of the growing conviction that even when continuously used in small quantities alcohol in the end will prove injurious. There is a strong tendency developing in this and other countries looking to the limitation of the traffic in alcoholic beverages both from a health and ethical standpoint. There is a rising tide of public sentiment favorable to entire prohibition. This is largely due to the fact that attempted limitations of the traffic have not been attended with the success expected. Even in dry territory the ease of access of alcoholic beverages has done much to neutralize the good effects of prohibitory laws.

There is a marked tendency in social entertainment to diminish the supply of alcoholic beverages. Not only are the more dangerous kinds, such as distilled liquors, cocktails, cordials and other mixtures, more or less under ban, but even the serving of wine and beer is growing more and more infrequent. When these beverages are served the quantities consumed are becoming gradually less. In fact, there are signs which are not without significance of the approach of a nation and perhaps a world-wide prohibition. The Czar of Russia before his deposition under the stress of military exigency forbade the manufacture and use of distilled alcoholic beverages (Vodka) in Russia. Lord Kitchener just before his tragic death appealed to the patriotic citizens of Great Britain to omit any alcoholic beverage of any kind in sending favors to the soldiers. France is considering a further inhibition of the manufacture and sale of certain distilled and compounded beverages. In the United States a number of states have voted for prohibition and five more were added to the dry number by the 1916 and 1917 elections. During the continuation of the war with Germany and Austria the manufacture of all distilled alcoholic beverages in the United States ceased at midnight, September 7, 1917.

What is Whisky? - Nevertheless, a work on beverages would be extremely incomplete without reference to those of an alcoholic nature which have been in use almost since the beginning of history, and which have been extensively consumed by mankind for centuries. The magnitude of the industry, the extent of the habit of using at least small quantities of alcoholic beverages and the general interest in the question still maintains the primacy of this subject among the beverages of the world.

There is none of them over which a fiercer controversy has taken place than that of whisky. "What is Whisky?" has become not only a local but a nation-wide problem.

This problem has entered into the administration of the food laws, it has been the subject of consideration by cabinet officers and Presidents of the United States, and has frequently been brought before the courts of the country for adjudication. A discussion of whisky as a beverage will therefore render unnecessary any very extensive discussion of other forms of distilled alcoholic beverages. For this reason this discussion is given here in some detail.