"Tobacco Purity Law" in Great Britain. Myth or Reality?

[brian64]

Ensconced in chicanery is a good summation of the world in general. Perhaps it's always been that way, but never more so than these days.

 

[jguss]

For those with the appetite, here are a few links I shared with Jesse earlier today.
As for the first, if pressed for time skip to paragraph 40. This strongly suggests any restrictions were focused less on purity (as was the case in Germany), than with tax revenues: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhealth/27/9111802.htm
This link to the 1970 regulations reinforces the view that it was a customs issue more than a public health issue: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1970/1018/pdfs/uksi_19701018_en.pdf

 

[sablebrush52]

Just taking a brief break from painting medieval suits of armor, one of which, a very strange design, makes the wearer look like he has tits growing out of his armpits. Well, it was the Middle Ages, so maybe he did.
If I remember correctly, didn't the German purity laws concern beer? Who could complain about making sure that your beer is the real thing and not urine?
Okay, back to the armory.

 

[sablebrush52]

Actually, the 1716 law is a pretty good indicator as it is an extension of the existing purity laws to include snuff. So that means that a purity law regarding tobacco already existed.

 

[seldom]

Since it's come up in the thread, the German beer purity law (Reinheitsgebot) states that the only ingredients allowed in beer are water, barley, and hops. Yeast wasn't listed because the existence of yeast wasn't yet known. 1516 is the date of a Bavarian version although there were some even older beer laws in place.

Some modern beers in Germany like to advertise that they abide by the 1516 Bavarian Reinheitsgebot.