Answer :
c. the upper classes were happy; if the lower classes could afford tea, then they could consume less alcohol
The statement that is the strongest counterclaim to the claim is that the upper classes were happy; if the lower classes could afford tea, then they could consume less alcohol. Therefore, Option C is correct.
What is a counterclaim?
A claim that has been made to rebut accusations against you comes under a counterclaim. For instance, if you are sued for breaching a contract and you, in turn, also file suit against the plaintiff and claim that he was really the one who breached the contract, your claim against the original plaintiff is an example of a counterclaim.
In other words, when a plaintiff initiates a lawsuit and a defendant responds to the lawsuit with claims of their own against the plaintiff, the defendant’s claims are "counterclaims."
Therefore, Option C is correct.
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