Katabasis

The Government began a retreat from the high, dry mountain of Prohibition to the low, wet valleys in the land of Bacchus; the National Assembly renounced prohibition by substituting a new liquor law.

The new law makes the descent slow. Duty on spirits is quadrupled; spirits may not be drunk in public; no new bars are to be opened; public drunkenness is taboo. Persons opening new bars are liable to confiscation of their installation, a fine of between $75 and $750 and imprisonment for from six months to two years. Persons using spirituous liquors in public are liable to a fine of between $5 and $75; arrested drunkards can be fined from $35 to $375 or can be imprisoned for from one month to one year.