The Spectator at war: Three month suspension

From ‘A Possible Compromise’, The Spectator, 10 April 1915:

If the Government have not the courage to adopt total prohibition, then we reluctantly suggest the following plan. Let the Cabinet adopt the policy of the suspension of the sale of all intoxicants for three months—say from April 20th till July 20th. Such suspension would cover what, as far as we can see, must be the crisis of the war. It would cover also the period when climatic conditions give less excuse for the use of stimulants, though at the same time they increase the temptation to drink on the purely physical ground of thirst. Speaking generally, people drink more in hot weather, though they have really much less excuse for demanding a “dram” than they have in very cold or very wet weather. Again, it is during the next three months that the great strain for the provision of munitions of war will come, and when every ounce of energy will be required from the nation.