Brewers Guardian November 20 1871. Page 341.

Can a Beerhouse-Keeper Sell Spirits on other Premises though Licensed to do so?

At Woolwich Police-court, in the case of the Excise prosecution against Mr. William Watts, proprietor of the "Admiral Inn," Francis-street, Woolwich, and the "‘Maidstone" wine and spirit stores, Bowater-crescent, reported under this heading in our last impression, Mr. Hughes, solicitor, now appeared, before Mr. Maude, on behalf of several licensed victuallers and wine merchants interested in the matter, but no one was present either for the Commissions of Inland Revenue or the defendant.

Mr. Boustred, the chief clerk, reminded the magistrate that the case had been adjourned for his consideration of a peculiar point raised by the prosecution, that the defendant, being licensed under the Beer Acts, could not also hold a license to sell spirits, even on other premises. He had, however, received a note from Somerset-house stating that the summons was withdrawn.

Mr. Hughes said he was prepared to go into the matter and explain his reading of the two statutes bearing on the question, but it was not worth while fighting a phantom.

Mr. Maude said as the information had been abandoned the knotty point did not arise, and he had nothing to decide. That, as far as he knew, would be an end of the matter.