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Propination laws were a privilege granted to Polish szlachta that gave landowners a monopoly over profits from alcohol consumed by their peasants. Propination is a historical right to distill spirits.
In many cases, profits from propination exceeded those from agricultural production or other sources.
These laws usually included:
These laws first appeared in the 16th and were widespread by the 17th century. They lasted until 1845 ( Prussian partition), 1889 ( Galicia) and 1898 ( Russian Partition).
Propination was the main cause for massive alcoholism in Poland; also, because taverns in rural region were leased nearly exclusively to Jews who took part in enforcing these privileges, it was also a major reason for antisemitism among peasants. [1]