Michael Martin makes a number of interesting comments. I am struck by the assertion that By the mid 19th century, consumption levels had in fact dropped ... How firmly do we know actual levels of alcohol consumption at different dates in various jurisdictions, all of which produced grains and other products which could be transformed into alcohol in small quantities? And in particular for British North America, which remained rural very late and whose borders were remarkaby permeable? Kris Inwood, Economics, University of Guelph