Inebriates, RETREATS FOR. The Habitual Drunkards Act, 1879, amended and made permanent by the Inebriates Act, 1888, made provision for the licensing of institutions for the reception and treatment of habitual drunkards. By these acts an inebriate might sign a bond before two justices of the peace for a period not exceeding twelve months, under which the licensee of the retreat had power to detain and control him during the time specified. No provision was made for the committal of any one against his will, nor for the establishment of retreats for the reception of persons unable to pay for their maintenance. The Inebriates Act of 1898, which came into force on 1st January 1899, gives power to courts of justice to commit persons convicted of penal offences whose offence may be traced to drink, or who may be found to be habitual drunkards, to three years' detention in a state (or certified) inebriate reformatory. The Secretary of State is empowered to establish state inebriate reformatories, or, on application from county or borough councils or private persons, to certify private inebriate reformatories. Full provision is made for the conducting and management of these institutions. The act applies to the whole United Kingdom. An amending act (1899) provides for the payment of expenses of prosecutions under the act.
In America there were in 1895 above fifty such hospitals, with over 1000 patients. In some states of the Union, inebriates may be compulsorily committed to these institutions. It is claimed that 'in fully 3000 cases, 35 per cent. of those who had remained under treatment at least one year had been permanently restored.'