英国1830年《啤酒法》刍议

An Analysis of British “Beer Act” in 1830

英国自16世纪中叶颁布第一部售酒法以来,治安法官一直行使售酒许可证的发放,与在工业化中崛起的大酒商形成权力寻租与利益均沾。19世纪初,随着自由主义思潮的兴起,啤酒零售中的垄断行为饱受谴责,影响到英国政府决策;同时为了刺激啤酒需求、抑制不断攀升的烈酒饮用,议会于1830年颁布《啤酒法》,解除了治安法官对啤酒经营许可的发放权,放宽了啤酒的零售资格限制,实现了啤酒的自由贸易。大量啤酒馆的涌现,加剧了酗酒等社会问题。

Local magistrates had been exercised the power of liquor licensing in England since the first Licensing Act was enacted during mid-16th century. Being in collusion with brewers rising in industrialization, they made use of public power for private. By early 19th century, with the rising of liberalism, monopoly of power in beer trade was increasingly condemned. Partly because of stimulating beer demand to restrain growing spirit consumption, parliament enacted Beer Act in 1830, which removed the power of magistrates on licensing and carried out free trade in beer. But the Act created large number of beerhouses and aggravated excess drinking.