大象传媒

In 1916, a group of miners and a pub landlord were hauled before the authorities in Barnsley for buying a round of drinks at the George Hotel at Wombwell. They were just one of a number of prosecutions in the area for contravening a 鈥渘o treating order鈥�.

Banning drinkers from paying for someone else鈥檚 pint was just one of the ways the government tried to reduce alcohol consumption during World War One. Licensing hours and regulations were curtailed by an amendment to the Defence of the Realm Act in 1915, due to concerns about the impact of drinking on the war.

Absenteeism due to drunkenness was considered a potential threat to the war effort. It was a particular concern in coalfield communities and amongst munitions workers.

Plain clothes policemen were sent into pubs to make sure that each person was paying for their own drink. Newspaper accounts of the court cases indicate the law was resented, and often ignored. Anyone flouting the law could be fined up to 拢100 or even jailed.

Location: The George Hotel, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 0DD
Photograph of The George Wombswell courtesy of Barnsley CAMRA

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