"Again he started on a drinking orgy..." (C.V. Tench, 1939)

It would have been impossible that an "Indian" could have a good time in the watering holes of New Westminster as suggested by Tench and others. There was a strict liquor prohibition on the Native population of BC from 1854 to 1962. For that reason some authors changed their Slumach from an "Indian" into a "half-breed," to do his carousing legally.

Following clipping from the Daily Columbian of 3 November 1890 shows the harshness of the punishment for consumption or possession of alcohol.

Police Court
Dan, a Kaetzi Indian, was found in a state of intoxication and pleaded guilty this morning in court. He was fined $5 and one month imprisonment at hard labor. Dan was also charged with the still more serious charge of having had an intoxicant, to wit, whiskey, in his possession and for that he was fined $26 and one month's imprisonment at hard labor.

Compare that with what happened to a white man (Daily Columbian 11 November 1890), a repeat offender:

Police Court
John Anderson is not a new figure in Police Court. His offence this morning consisted of drunk and incapable. The case was clearly proved and the usual $2.50 and costs imposed

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