The Lid’s Off Grog In N. Caledonia

Noumea was expecting Christmas and New Year to he’ m V'l ything else. Main reason being that the local Assembly has taken I restrictions off native drinking. . , -mjw/*.

Previously the real New Caledonian was restricted to beer—whue tew” New Caledonians, including Polynesians from Wallis id other places, could drink any kind of liquor they * fh 'sidents thought this restriction unfair; others said itives made a big enough noise and created enough du'tur *» i beer, they trembled to think what it was going to be like ley had wine and spirits. , „ e „ n However, Authority seems to be satisfied that there has bee xrease in alcoholism in New Caledonia in recent y^ rB^ n le new freedom will do no harm. Which perhaps seemsodd F the big anti-alcohol campaign in Metropolitan zars avid the discovery there that alcoholism, even l r ° m f P fh iolescent years, was practically an endemic Pa J \enery of France these days are the hoardings that urge o pon you at every turn of the road.