68 THE ALCOHOL PROBLEM 
ance ’’ states frankly that it stands for no-licence and 
ultimate prohibition, and it summarily rejects dis- 
interested management in every form. 
Though the electoral areas are so small that it is 
not necessary for anyone living in a ‘‘ no-licence ”’ 
area to walk more than a mile or so in order to obtain a 
drink, the effects of the scheme in a few of the areas 
have been very striking. For instance, in Lerwick 
Burgh, Shetland (electorate, 1,825; licences, 17; 
abolished May, 1921), the convictions for drunkenness 
in the three * wet” years 1914 to 1916 were 139, 155, 
and 169 respectively. In the three *“ dry > years 1922 
to 1924 they fell to 13, 27, and 26, or a seventh their 
previous number. Again, in Kilsyth Parish, Stirling- 
shire (electorate, 2,687; licences, 17; abolished May, 
1921), the convictions for drunkenness in 1920 were 
76; 1921, 35; 1922, 5; 1923, 7.* 
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 
The results of the prohibition movements in other 
countries afford us a considerable body of informa- 
tion, from which we ought to be able to extract much 
of direct value for our guidance in this country, if only 
we have sufficient judgment and foresight. From the 
successes obtained we should learn what to imitate, and 
from the failures, what to avoid; but we must always 
remember that the psychology of our people is not 
necessarily the same as that of others. Indeed, in 
many cases it is obviously very different, and great 
allowances have to be made accordingly. 
It is probable that the ardent temperance reformer 
* J.N. Fudge, Weekly Westminster, May 2, 1925 ; see also ““ Alliance 
Year Book,” 1928, p. 17.