The Inebriates Act, 1898

Abstract

The Inebriates Act of 1898 has been placed on the Statute Book, but the results are as yet disappointing. The fact is that the machinery is still incomplete; and, as drunkenness continues rampant, obvious failures must occur in administration. It has been enacted that drunkards, convicted four times within one year of certain specified offences, may be sent to an inebriate reformatory and detained there for three years. The Home Secretary has explained that it is not intended that these institutions should be erected by the Government, at any rate in the first instance; although contributions in aid of maintenance will be granted Rules have been made for these reformatory institutions, and have come into effect in the United Kingdom and Ireland; but we are not aware that any such certified reformatory exists in Scotland or in Ireland, while those which have been certified in England are manifestly insufficient to meet the immediate demands on their accommodation. We note that the Royal Victoria Homes at Bristol have been certified for 60 women; Lady Henry Somerset's Homes at Duxhurst for 12 women; at St. Joseph's Homes at Ashford for 56 female Roman Catholics. There is immediate need of a reformatory for men, and the Inebriate Reformatory Committee (32, Charing Cross, S.W.) appeal for funds, not to relieve the counties of their obligations, but to meet the pressing wants of the day.