Prisoners – Prisoners with alcohol addiction
This entry in the Knowledge Base uses current terminology where possible and limits the use of obsolete terminology to the titles of legislation and original files.
Attempts to control alcoholism in late 19th century Scotland included various measures to reform people with alcohol addiction leading to the Habitual Drunkards Act 1879 and the Inebriates Acts of 1888 and 1898.[1] The Habitual Drunkards Act provided for the establishment of ‘retreats’, i.e. houses licensed by local authorities for the reception, control and treatment of people with alcohol addiction. They were subject to inspection by Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State. Admission to the retreats was limited to formal applications by people with alcohol addiction, who had to specify the period in which they would remain in the retreat, and thereafter submit to curative treatment and abide by the rules or risk prosecution and imprisonment. Between 1879 and 1903 retreats were established at Mabie House (Dumfries) and Lachallan House (Leven, Fife). In 1906 further retreats were opened at Newmains (Hartwood, Lanarkshire), and Seafield (Greenock), although the latter closed in 1907. One further retreat operated at Invereden (Cupar, Fife) between 1909 and 1913.[2]
The Inebriates Act of 1898 provided that people with alcohol addiction or persons convicted, while under the influence of drink, of offences punishable by imprisonment or penal servitude, might, instead of or in addition to any other sentence, be detained for not more than three years in a certified or state inebriate reformatory. Part of Perth General Prison was adapted in 1900 as a State Inebriate Reformatory and operated between 1901 and 1924. Other inebriate reformatories were established by local authorities and charitable institutions:
- Girgenti (Ayrshire), run by Glasgow Corporation between 1900 and 1910
- Greenock (Renfrewshire), run jointly by Greenock Corporation and the Philanthropic Association between 1903 and 1921
- Hairmyres, Lanark, run by Lanark County Council between 1904 and 1917
- Aberdeen, run by the Philanthropic Association between 1905 and 1919
- Scottish Labour Colony, run by the Philanthropic Association between 1904 and 1917
In 1907 inebriate reformatories and retreats housed over 200 inmates. The largest number of admission (46) occurred in 1901, but numbers declined thereafter. Restrictions on the sale of liquor during the First World War (1914-18) reduced the need for the reformatories and retreats and methods of treating alcohol addiction changed. The last male inmate of the state reformatory was discharged in June 1915 and the last female inmate in October 1924.
Records relating to prisoners with alcohol addiction are held by National Records of Scotland (reference code HH19).
Compilers: SCAN contributors (2000).
Related Knowledge Base entries
Bibliography
Cameron, Joy, Prisons and Punishment in Scotland (Canongate, 1983)
[1] Habitual Drunkards Act 1879 (42 & 43 Vict. c.19); Inebriates Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c.19); Inebriates Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c.60).
[2] National Records of Scotland (GB 243) HH57/60-71 Files entitled Inebriate Reformatories, 1887-1920.