Anti-Prohibition Donation 6th February 1924

When you consider the historical context of Prohibition, it is understandable to assume that this was exclusive to the United States of America. In fact, the impact of Prohibition was most significant in the USA, although there were attempts to impose similar regulations in Scotland.  

This was due to the 1913 Temperance Act for Scotland, which caused concern among distillers and distillery owners about their business and future. You can read more via Whiskipedia, which provides a concise overview of the period in question.

The Temperance movement reached its zenith during this period, and its religious roots ensured it received considerable support from certain quarters. It is not surprising to find that Mackinlay & Birnie, despite being respectable members of society, were against the banning of alcohol consumption, as evidenced by the discovery of this document, which was part of the collection we purchased in 2023.

The most significant consequence of this was in Wick, which was afflicted by a pervasive problem with alcohol due to its status as one of the busiest fishing ports in Europe. Crew members from rival vessels would disembark and consume excessive quantities of alcohol, which would subsequently result in a multitude of incidents and violent confrontations. In such circumstances, it is evident why additional action was deemed necessary in specific areas, rather than a complete ban across the country. 

Nevertheless, it permits me to revisit one of my most favourite Glen Mhor narratives, as documented by the Inverness Courier on Friday, February 21st, 1908 which I've transcribed below:

MR TENNYSON SMITH'S TEMPERANCE MEETINGS

'Crowded meetings are being addressed in the Music Hall nightly by Mr Tennyson Smith, the advocate of total abstinence. On Tuesday night the chair was occupied by Dr F. M. Mackenzie, and the singing was led by Herr Waack. 

Mr Smith spoke, incidentally, of a visit he had paid to the Glen-Mhor Distillery, where he had met Bailie Birnie. He wanted to know the shareholders in the distillery business. If they were ashamed of other people knowing, they should get out of the business; and if they were not ashamed to own the shares, then he was not ashamed to tell the people who they were. Bailie Birnie told him he (Mr Smith) was holding the liquor-sellers up to ridicule and obloquy, and was bluffing the public. If so, he only wished that the liquor-sellers would prosecute him. If political parties did nothing for the people, the working-man, by signing the pledge, would do more for himself in one night than the Government would do for him in twenty years. (Applause). 

One can readily imagine Mr Smith, imbued with the values of Temperance, entering the Glen Mhor distillery and being confronted by the former Lord Provost and Treasurer of Inverness Council, John Birnie. An individual of considerable stature, as noted by Neil M. Gunn in 1931, who had instilled a sense of fear in his workforce.

It seems plausible to suggest that Mr Smith was sent home in no uncertain terms to reconsider his position in a manner that was both emphatic and unambiguous. This was not reflected in his subsequent account to the Temperance congregation, such is human nature.

The actual donation in today's value would be approximately £1900, which is a commendable donation for a simpler time. It would be of interest to compare the donations from other distillers, ascertain their level of support for this initiative, and determine the frequency and average donation.

The reverse of the document continues the traditional Glen Mhor distillery office of summary and recording, the prominence is given to the Mr Ross as all will become apparent why.

This brings us back to the aforementioned donation to an Edinburgh-based institution. Furthermore, the Glen Mhor filing system, as evidenced by the comments on the reverse of the document, serves to corroborate the authenticity of the document. 

William H. Ross is another figure who isn't talked about much these days, but who, as director and chairman of the Distillers Company Limited (D.C.L), played a huge part in shaping the Scotch industry as we know it today. He was an individual who rose through the ranks of the company, at the time of this document he was chairman of the Whisky Association's Anti-Prohibition Campaign Council and managing director of D.C.L. He would become chairman of the forerunner of Diageo in 1925 and remain in the post for a decade until ill health forced him to step down. 

I do feel there is more of a story to the Anti-Prohibition fund that hasn't really been documented to any great degree previously, as the headlines in this article confirm. As much as I'd love to dig even deeper, I have to realise that my focus is Glen Mhor, and then Glen Albyn, so my resources are sadly occupied for the foreseeable future. It does seem like a fascinating period in the history of Scotch whisky, aided by donations from distillers such as Mackinlay and Birnie.