1952: Tea rationing to end

News of the end of tea rationing means Britons will soon be able to enjoy unlimited "cuppas" for the first time in 12 years.

During a speech in Newcastle the Minister of Food, Major Gwilym Lloyd-George, said rationing and price controls on tea would be lifted on Sunday.

Major Lloyd-George said the Ministry of Food had taken advantage of a steady improvement in supplies of tea since the end of the war.

The price of tea would not rise due to the abolition of price controls, Major Lloyd-George added.

And he hinted at a further easing of rationing in the near future.

"We are getting out of the import of raw sugar and - it is only a little matter - we are getting out of the banana trade soon," he said.

De-rationing schedule

The lifting of tea rationing follows the UK's recent re-entry into the international tea trading arena with the resumption of public tea auctions in London.

Nearly a third of the tea produced in the world is consumed in the UK and Ireland and the government is no doubt hoping for a boost in popularity by making the nation's favourite beverage freely available again.

However, a rush to buy tea is not anticipated as the weekly ration was increased to 3oz per head - the pre-war consumption level - some time ago.

Rationing has been in force since January 1940, a few months after the start of the Second World War.

In 1948 the government announced the start of a de-rationing programme but so far little progress has been made.