The "truth" about Sunday Closing and Local Option: Being a Reply Made on the 10th April, 1883, in the Town Hall, Rugeley by the Rev. R. M. Grier, . Speeches Delivered on These Subjects by H. C.

This book is a spirited defense of temperance against the arguments of the licensed victuallers. The author, a clergyman, begins by sketching the history of the temperance movement in Rugeley, which he states began not with the clergy, but with working men. He then interrogates the arguments of convenience and personal freedom frequently put forward by defenders of the trade, countering that the privileged status of the drink trade by comparison to other trades is unjust, and that the power of alcohol to harm, even in moderation, renders defending it on the grounds of liberty and freedom untenable. The author also discusses the recent closing of public houses on Sundays in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, citing evidence that such legislation has had the effect of reducing drunkenness. The author concludes by emphasizing the moral imperative to restrict the sale of alcohol, given the widespread damage it inflicts on individuals, families, and society as a whole. This book is a valuable contribution to the debate on alcohol regulation, offering a nuanced and wide-ranging examination of the issues.