How did Robert Owen regulate alcohol sales at New Lanark?

At the New Lanark mills, Robert Owen sought to improve the living conditions of his workers by addressing the prevalence of crime and vice that had emerged under previous management. To foster a more orderly and healthy environment, Owen implemented strict supervision over the sale of alcoholic beverages.1

Beyond regulating alcohol, Owen’s approach to social reform at New Lanark included improving housing, encouraging habits of cleanliness and thrift, and establishing the first infant school in Great Britain. These efforts were part of his broader philanthropy, which was rooted in the belief that human character is shaped by the circumstances and influences to which individuals are exposed from an early age.21