Act of Parliament | |
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Long title | An Act for repealing certain Duties on Spirituous Liquors, and on Licences for retailing the same, and for laying other Duties on Spirituous Liquors, and on Licences to retail the said Liquors. |
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Citation | 16 Geo. 2. c. 8 |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 22 March 1743 |
Other legislation | |
Repealed by | Gin Act 1751 |
Relates to | Gin Act 1736 |
Status: Repealed | |
Text of statute as originally enacted |
The Spirits Act 1742 (commonly known as the Gin Act 1743) was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain (16 Geo. 2. c. 8) repealing the Gin Act 1736 in favour of lower taxes and licence fees.
The Gin Act 1736 attempted to curb gin consumption by instituting a 20 shilling per gallon excise tax as well as a £50 annual license (equivalent to £8,000 today) for all gin sellers. The law proved immensely unpopular and provoked public rioting and widespread defiance. It is said that only two of the annual licenses were ever purchased and many people turned to producing homemade gins. [2] [3]
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