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.
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.
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