The Development of Tavern Legislation during the Preparation of the wine Reform of 1863 in Russia

Relevance. The wine reform of 1863 is an important stage in the improvement of Russian legislation on the tavern industry. But the activities of the Special Committee for the Development of tavern legislation in historiography have not received adequate coverage. The problem raised in the article is very relevant for the correct interpretation of the history of tavern establishments. The purpose is to show the activities of a Special Committee headed by A.P. Zablotsky-Desyatovsky on the development of tavern legislation in Russia. The objectives arising from the designated goal are to ensure that: to describe the state of the tavern industry on the eve of the wine reform; to reveal the course of preparation of the "Regulations on the tavern industry"; to highlight the requirements legally imposed on tavern establishments. The methodology of the article includes the principles of objectivity, historicism and consistency, which complemented the historical-chronological, historical-comparative research methods. Results. There was no general legislation regulating the activities of tavern establishments in Russia for a long time, different laws regulated the tavern industry in capitals, port, provincial, and county towns. They were extensive, confusing, and hampered the initiative of the hotel owners, but left many aspects of the activity without instructions. The government has been developing tavern legislation for a long time. The merit in the creation of the all-Russian "Regulations on tavern establishments" belongs to a Special commission under the leadership of A.P. Zablotsky-Desyatovsky. She carried out this work as part of the preparation of the wine reform. The "Regulations on tavern establishments" became the fundamental document that defined the conditions and nature of the tavern business for several decades. Conclusion. The "Regulations on Tavern Establishments", highly approved on July 4, 1861, corresponded to the spirit of the times. It made it possible to establish clear rules for the functioning of tavern establishments. Their number increased significantly in the second half of the XIX century, budget revenues from taverns became a prominent part of budgets at all levels.