Belgium, 1874–1900.
M. Masoin tells us that out of 2,588 convicts (sentenced for 5 years at least) who entered the central institution at Louvain between 1874 and 1895, there were 1,157 (44.7%) addicted to drunkenness. Out of 216 sentenced to hard labor for life there were 118 (54.6%), and out of 202 sentenced to death 121 (60%).[278]
In the prison of Mons Dr. Morel shows that out of 325 recidivists 181 (53.9%) were given to alcoholic excesses.[279]
It appears from the “Statistique Judiciaire de la Belgique” of 1900, that in 1898, out of 19,169 recidivists (men) there were 5,976 (31.2%) who had already been convicted of breaking the law against drunkenness, and out of 22,904 non-recidivists (men) 1,984 (8.7%). Among the women the figures were 8% (recidivists) and 1.1% (non-recidivists).[280]
Denmark, 1871–1897.
Out of 2,982 prisoners received between 1871 and 1880 in the prison at Vridslöselille, 797 (27%) were drunkards. The penitentiary statistics show us that during the years 1891–1897, among the non-recidivists 16.3% of the men were drunkards, and 4.6% of the women.[281] [[510]]
England and Wales, 1858–1897.
The following figures are taken from the police statistics[282]:
| Years. | Number of Persons Prosecuted. | Of whom there were Habitual Drinkers:[283] | |||||
| Men. | Women. | Total. | |||||
| Absolute Number. | % | Absolute Number. | % | Absolute Number. | % | ||
| 1858 | 434,492 | 13,553 | 3.7 | 4,130 | 4.5 | 17,683 | 4.1 |
| 1859 | 419,929 | 18,440 | 5.6 | 5,303 | 5.9 | 23,743 | 5.7 |
| 1860 | 409,780 | 19,471 | 6.0 | 5,210 | 6.0 | 24,681 | 6.0 |
| 1861 | 421,891 | 19,475 | 5.8 | 4,960 | 5.7 | 24,425 | 5.8 |
| 1862 | 438,228 | 20,830 | 6.0 | 5,209 | 5.8 | 26,039 | 5.9 |
| 1894 | 689,761 | 19,224 | 3.3 | 6,557 | 5.3 | 25,781 | 3.6 |
| 1895 | 687,075 | 16,268 | 2.8 | 5,695 | 4.7 | 21,963 | 3.1 |
| 1896 | 728,374 | 17,308 | 2.8 | 6,015 | 4.7 | 23,323 | 3.2 |
| 1897 | 757,485 | 17,012 | 2.7 | 6,084 | 4.6 | 23,096 | 3.0 |
These figures have no great value; they represent the number of habitual drinkers to be less than it really is. The statistics cited divide all persons prosecuted into eight groups (habitual criminals, prostitutes, vagrants, etc.) and under the heading of habitual drinkers only those alcoholics figure who are not included under other headings. If a vagrant, for example, is also a habitual drinker, he will be counted among the vagrants and not among the habitual drinkers; hence this latter group is much larger than the figures would indicate.[284]