The Place of the Rural Gathering in the Regulation of the Drinking Trade after the Wine Reform of 1863

Abstract

Relevance. The place of the rural gathering in the regulation of the drinking trade after the wine reform of 1863 has not received a serious assessment in the scientific literature. The presented article is the first attempt to assess the impact of rural society on the size of the drinking trade The purpose − to determine the place of the rural gathering in the regulation of the drinking trade after the wine re-form of 1863. The objectives which follow from the goal set, are to: to name the normative acts establishing the place of the rural gathering in the opening of drinking establishments; to testify to the ways that wine merchants used to obtain con-sent; to determine the degree of independence of peasants in decision-making. Methodology. The study was conducted on the basis of macro- and micro-historical analysis, problem-chronological, historical-typological and historical-genetic methods were used. Results. The new legislation made the opening of drinking establishments on the lands belonging to rural societies dependent on rural gatherings. Peasants willingly went to a village meeting about a drinking establishment, behaved importantly, which was explained neither by adherence to morality, but by the desire to get money or booze for their vote. Rural societies reacted unfriendly to the Law of May 14, 1885, which prohibited receiving payment for a permissive sentence. The opposition was expressed in the growth of bans on the drinking trade. By law, on May 5, 1892, rural societies received official permission to open a drinking trade for a fee, but to spend it on paying arrears. Conclusions. The wine reform of 1863 included the village assembly in the system of regulation of the drinking trade. In the post-reform period, the limits of the influence of the rural gathering on the drinking industry changed, peasant consent largely depended on the rural authorities, world intermediaries, and the presence of drinking affairs. But the opportunity to open or prohibit the drinking trade strengthened the peasants' sense of self-importance. They gave preference to local merchants and the most generous petitioners. Wine merchants, wanting to get a permissive verdict, openly watered or distributed money to the peasants.