WHEN Sydney police raided sly-grog shops during the 1920s, the confiscated beer, wine and spirits were usually auctioned, attracting large crowds looking to grab a bargain.
In October 1920, 4,000 bottles of beer were sold at an auction “for fairly low prices” in Sydney, the consequence of police raids on sly-grog shops. A year later, at an auction, punters were able to buy bottles of beer for three-pence each, when 6,000 ‘long-necks’ went under the hammer.
Interestingly though, not all the confiscated grog went to auction. The Sydney Sun revealed on December 10 1929 that some of the confiscated beer was donated to public hospitals – yes, public hospitals!
Now, what a way to attract people to the public health system!
Hospital attractions
The question of what becomes of beer confiscated by the police in raids upon sly grog shops was raised at Burwood Court [Sydney] yesterday.
Mr. Williams S.M., said that he thought that the police sold the liquor.
Sergeant Saunders said that the present practice was to send the beer to public hospitals for the benefit of the inmates.
Mr. Williams: “Well these hospitals cannot be such bad places after all.”
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Categories: cartoon, NSW hotels, Sydney Beer
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