Everyone has heard of the absurdity of our licensing laws. under which one public house may have to close at 10 and another exactly opposite across the street may stay open till 10.30. But I think even this is beaten by. what I found when lunching in the Army and Navy Stores this week.
For those who do not know it, it mey be explained that the A and N consists of two great buildings, separated by a narrow street, but connected across it by covered bridges.
There is a restaurant in each and of course both buildings are part of the same company. Going to lunch in the Victoria Street building I asked for a small whisky and soda. The waitress said she wes sorry she could not serve me anything but wine or beer.
"But," she added, "if you go over to the restaurant in the back building, you can get whisky there. They won't license us for spirits on this side" So our wonderful licensing laws decree that you may drink
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.