Gin Act

Ever since the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and ever since the English government opened the distilling trade to all English people, gin production exploded and increased 600 percent over approximately forty years (Doc. 1). The huge surpluses of grain, which gin is made from, resulted in the cheap production of gin which appealed very strongly to the poor and allowed them to voluntarily further their plight in society (Doc. 13). In eighteenth century England the restriction of gin was heavily encouraged by those who wanted to curb the moral and social destruction evident in the streets, however others were convinced that the economical ramifications caused by restricting such a huge industry would be much worse.

Many people were disgusted by what was happening to the physical, social, and moral state of gin abusers and the affect it was having on their cities. Socially people didn’t appreciate poor ragged drunkards filling their streets and filling their taverns encouraging t...