Defence of the Realm Acts (DORA)

The first of these was passed in 1914. By the end of the war, Britons were used to the idea of the government controlling their lives and limiting their freedom. Drunkenness was a serious problem, leading to poor output in vital industries like munitions. One of the acts cut down pub opening hours - in London they used to be open from 5am to 12.30am which is why many often turned up for work drunk. These limits on pub opening hours remained in Britain until 1989, even though they were supposed to last only for the war! Beer was watered down to make it less alcoholic and prices were put up to discourage drinking. The buying of 'rounds' (called 'treating' then) was made illegal. Convictions for drunkenness dropped to 10 per cent of their 1914 figure.

The Whitsun and August Bank Holidays as well as Guy Fawkes night were also suspended by DORA - the first two to help boost production. From 1917 onwards it became illegal to hire males between the ages of 18 and 60 in non-essential industries. To win the support of the trades unions for the war effort, the government agreed to tax 'excess' profits in some industries at 80 per cent.

Neil Demarco: Britain and the Great War; Oxford University Press, 1992/2000, page 36