DRUNKENNESS had reached such a pitch in St Helens that a religious group, fired by temperance zeal, set about to suppress this sinful business.

And an echo of that anti-booze battle is contained in a turn-of-century certificate, brought to my attention by an amused customer of this column.

Numbered 797 (which gives some idea of the number of strong-drink vigilantes who rallied to the call) the yellowing souvenir has a tear-off strip to contain the candidate's name, and a list of pretty stringent conditions to observe.

While amusing to the modern mind, it's also a piece of social memorabilia from times when the taproom was, for most workers, their only escape from the daily grind of pit and factory life. No bingo, television or even radio, then!

The resoundingly-titled Holy Cross Catholic Association of Our Lady Immaculate for the Supppression of Drunkenness was the particular organisation that waged its war on alcoholic abuse in the 1890s.

Led by its president, H. Martyn Parker SJ, its objective reads as follows: 'Drunkenness and intemperance are acknowledged on all sides to be the chief cause of misery and sin. The object of the Association is to unite, as far as possible, all Catholics in a continued effort for the suppression of this great evil'.

But the members didn't apparently take their fight into the taprooms or onto street corners. For the certificate reads: 'The means proposed are: united prayer; frequent use of the Sacraments; and the influence of good example'.

New recruits were immediately familiarised with the rules, which included church attendances, especially on special occasions, including St Patrick's Day. Imagine that, having to stay 'dry'on Paddy's night while the rest of the township traditionally hammered the foaming fluid!

And, get this, the new members were required to pay a starting fee of one shilling (quite a sum in the Naughty 'Nineties) for the privilege. Although they did get a card and association medal after they coughed up.

And to make it a little easier for those with a taste for firewater or the amber stuff, the rules had a partial get-out clause. Candidates could choose between total and partial abstinence. Those in the second category were, however, to be monitored.

For the association rules declared that partial abstinence was only permitted 'where there is no danger of abuse'. They were 'not to exceed a certain quantity (of drink) to be determined by their Director, nor shall they take it in public house nor club'.

H WHY am I not surprised that the booze-busting association is no longer in business?