Liquor Referendum

For Nauruans

Nauru is to hold a general referendum on whether the islanders should be allowed to drink liquor. The Nauru Local Government Council, which decided the move, has ashed the Administration to put through legislation which will enable the referendum to be held soon.

Only Europeans and Chinese are legally permitted to drink on Nauru, and this has caused dissension among Gilbertese phosphate workers on the island, who claim the local restrictions should not apply to them (“PIM”, Sept., p. 57). Many Nauruans also object to the drink restrictions, but until now the Nauru Council has not been willing to consider lifting them.

Meanwhile, many islanders more or less openly break the law.

Nauruans distil on illegal brew called “ebeda”, which re cently was reported to be fetch ing up to £2 a quart on the blackmarket.