A BLACK List of Worcester's most persistent drunks was introduced by the city's magistrates and police at this time exactly 100 years ago.

The setting up of such black lists by towns and cities nationwide was permitted by the new Licensing Act of 1903 and even enabled the police to put up photographs of the ear-marked offenders in all local pubs and clubs.

It amounted to a three-year ban from entering licensed premises for those on the Black List.

The dubious privilege of being the first person black listed in Worcester went to a woman.

Berrow's Journal for this week a century ago reported the case from the City Police Court: "Jane Sale (40), married woman of 4 Court, Silver Street, was charged with being drunk and incapable in High Street. P.C Lock said the prisoner was lying across the pavement, though her husband was trying to pull her away.

"The Chief Constable said Sale had been convicted of drunkenness three times before within the past 10 months, and there was a fourth conviction for causing annoyance. She clearly came within the provisions for the Black List under the new Licensing Act.

"The Chairman of the Bench, Mr W.H Caldicott, said it was clearly no use fining defendant, and she must go to prison for seven days. She would also have the distinction of being the first woman in Worcester to be placed on the Black List.

"Defendant must understand that it would be an offence to obtain drink or to attempt to do so during the next three years, or for anyone to obtain it for her or to supply her with intoxicants."

"Crowquill", in his Journal comment column in the same edition, sought to inject some humour into the creation of the Black List:-

"The incorrigible tippler will now have more extensive photography thrust upon him or her. The new Licensing Act prescribes that his or her facial beauties shall be exhibited in every public house and club.

"Police stations will have portrait galleries to remind them of their most distinguished visitors, while innkeepers will have display photographs possibly comparing in artistic beauty with the highly coloured grocers' almanacks.

"If the delightful tints and traits of tipplers are produced in colours, they may vie with Spy's and other cartoons, with which some inns are most humorously decorated. In any event the photographs are calculated to inspire the wits of patrons, so that they will add to the gaiety of the nation.

"However, the tavern jests at tipplers may become stale in time, and the beauty show may fail in its continued merriment. And why should the beautiful slaves of alcohol, especially the ladies, be intruded into clubs?

Until women have the franchise, they have no right in political clubs, and even then they won't be welcome in superior clubs. Fancy the profanity of having Jane Sale, with or without a gilt frame, at the Union Club or County Club!

"It is understood that the official photographer is going to glorify Jane Sale by providing as many as 300 prints of her for three years' exhibition."

Nevertheless, persistent drunks were just one facet of public concern sweeping Britain a century ago over an increasing nationwide "epidemic" of drunkenness. The new Licensing Act of 1903 not only allowed for black lists but also sought a significant reduction in the number of public house across the kingdom.

This clearly led to great worry among pub landlords over their livelihoods, not least in Worcester.

This week 100 years ago, the Journal carried an account of the AGM of the city's Licensed Vituallers Association where the chairman, Councillor E. Yeates, asserted that it was one of the most critical times in the history of the licensed trade.

"Throughout the land the cry is for 'Reduction', but I believe the many unreasonable demands being made of the trade amount to mania. Evidence before the Royal Commission and statistics produced by the police authorities prove that a reduction in licenses will not necessarily do anything to decrease drunkenness.

"On the contrary, in many cases it could have the opposite effect."