Alcohol consumption in early Russell Co.

[DMS]

Russell Co. has been traditionally "dry" so far as legal sales of alcohol is concerned except for four years in the thirtys. If a person was charged in court or church for an alcohol related offense they were usually charged with drinking too much spirited liquor. The fact of drinking was secondary to the amount. Moonshining did not play a large part in our countys history but bootlegging has been ongoing in every generation. Records show very few serious penalties have ever been imposed on bootleggers as this is a local offense comparied to the federal laws imposed on moonshining.
It was different in earlier days. Our history reveals a time when several "Brandy Distilleries" and several more taverns operated in the county. The men who made brandy did so under federal licenses and those who ran taverns held local license.

Prices: Good apple Brandy $1.20 per gallon
.30 per quart
.16 per pint
.09 half pint
.06 gill
French Brandy .60 per pint
Distillers license per year $4.16

Just a little useless information