shebeens was a hot topic, pitting temperance advocates against those who considered the shebeens harmless fun. On January 5, 1888, the Twillingate Sun reported: "A policeman entered a shebeen and found a number of persons drinking. A panic ensued, and there was a general stampede. The transgressor of the law, on being brought before the magistrate, pleaded that he was merely entertaining a few friends. The Judge duly remarked he thought it a strange way to entertain friends, when the said friends tried to hide themselves and their drinking utensils away, on the approach of a constable." In April 1898, the Chief Steward of the S.S. Bruce raged in response to a St. John's Evening Telegram story querying whether his ship was "a floating shebeen". See also Bothy Cuca Shop – a similar establishment in Namibia List of public house topics Speakeasy Sly-grog shop (or shanty) References Types of drinking establishment South African culture Zimbabwean culture South African English