Drinking methylated spirits (or metho) was made an offence under Victoria’s Poisons Act 1927. Under this legislation, the offence was liable of a fine up to £20 (or imprisonment if unable to pay).

The act of drinking methylated spirits (a high alcohol concentrate used in Australia as a disinfectant and cleaning product) was usually associated with alcohol addiction combined with extreme poverty. It was therefore not unusual for some of those charged to be unable to pay the fine, and be remanded to gaol for a short period instead. For example, in the case here, a man was sentenced to a £5 fine but being unable to pay was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment.