Advertisements Against Drink

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
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Advertisements Against Drink is a letter written by Arthur Conan Doyle first published in The Times on 5 may 1915.


Advertisements Against Drink

The Times (5 may 1915)

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir, — The Government has demonstrated the power of advertisement in the raising of a great Army. It is really the result of constant suggestion, which ends by causing an atmosphere and a tendency. Why should the same thing not be done in the fight against drink ? If the walls of our dockyards and factories were covered with well-worded appeals and if the worker could not enter a public house without passing a placard which reminded him of his duty, it would surely produce some effect. If he read, "Drink to you means death to our soldiers," or "They give up their lives for you — won't you give up your drink for them ?" or "The sober workman fights for Britain — the drunk workman fights for Germany" it would surely move them. Or the appeal might be put on a wider, more general basis. "You will be happier without it — You will be healthier without it — You will be richer without it. Sign off for the war." The whisky sellers know the power of suggestion, as our hoardings testify. Why should it not be used against them ?

Yours faithfully,

A. CONAN DOYLE.
The Hôtel Métropole, W.C., May 3.