This
excluded employers who had sold liquors to their journeymen,
workmen, servants, and laborers at exorbitant prices. Street
vendors who sold liquors had to forfeit 10 pounds. A duty of 20s.
per gallon was imposed on the retailers. There were riots in
London against this statute and its new duties. There had been a
tremendous growth in liquor drinking, which did not stop but went
underground after this statute. In 1753, a penalty of 10 pounds or
hard labor for two months was made for selling spirituous liquors
without a license. Also licenses were restricted to people who
were certified by four reputable and substantial householders to
be of good fame and sober life and conversation. Sellers had to
maintain good order in their premises or forfeit 10 pounds. About
1754 only innkeepers, victuallers, and vendors paying rent of at
least 200 shillings could sell gin at retail. The punishment for
the second offense was whipping and imprisonment. That for the
third offense was transportation. About 1754 only innkeepers,
victuallers, and vendors paying rent of at least 200 shillings
could sell gin at retail. The punishment for the second offense
was whipping and imprisonment. That for the third offense was
transportation. In 1751, additional duties were placed on
spiritual liquors to discourage immoderate drinking going on by
people of the meanest and lowest sort to the detriment of the
health and morals of the common people.
Pages:
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967