Aniseed Liquors Out, But

You Can Have Beer

FRENCH colonies may soon find it is harder to come by hard liquors that are aniseed-based.

However, there should not be any difficulty with table wines, light aperitifs, beers and the like —which people in British colonies still naively associate with the Demon Drink!

The French Government recently passed legislation concerning the alcoholic drinks that can be im ported into French colonies. The restrictions are designed to prevent drunkenness amongst natives, and, in particular, to save them from the aniseed-based beverages which are closest to absinthe and highest in alcoholic content. The effect on natives, who frequently drink these liquors neat, can be disastrous. (According to the encyclopedia, absinthe is a spirit flavoured with the flowering tops and pounded leaves of wormwood and other aromatics. These are macerated for about eight days in alcohol and then distilled. The result is a green liquor, which turns white when water is added. The “evil effects” of drinking absinthe are described in some detail—everything from a •‘deranged digestive system” to hallucinations and madness. The best absinthe used to be made in Switzerland taut manufacture was prohibited years ago. Wormwood has, of course, nothing to do with worms or wood —it is a plant of the Artemisia family. The connection between absinthe and the aniseed based liquors we do not know.