Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - VII. Manufacturing Industries. Introd. by [G. Sundbärg] K. Åmark - 1. Articles of Food and Consumption. Introd. by Alf. Larson - Tobacco. By Å. G. Ekstrand
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vii. manufacturing industries.
in, and wholesale-purchase of, tobacco was, in future, to be administered by a
Board appointed by the Government, the Board being empowered to lease out the
exclusive right of importing tobacco and of erecting tobacco-factories everywhere
in the country, with the exception of Estland and Livland, in consideration of
an annual payment for the first 5 years of 120 000 copper "daler" and for the
following 5-yearly periods of 170 000 copper "daler" (a "riksdaler" specie,
corresponding to about 4 kronor of the present coinage, was, at the time in
question, equal to 6 copper "daler"). At first the leasing of the monopoly seems
to have acted satisfactorily, and the income received by the State appears
to have been of some importance, but the Estate of Burghers complained at
several Riksdags of the inconveniences caused to their body by the monopoly,
and after the lease had been renewed in 1672 for the reduced sum of 100 000
copper "daler", the monopoly was entirely withdrawn in 1685 and the trade in
tobacco made perfectly free. The income received by the State from tobacco
has, since that time, chiefly consisted of the duties paid.
The usual method of consuming tobacco in the 17th century was by smoking
in pipes, or by chewing.
In conformity with the endeavours made during the "Period of Liberty" to
promote commercial industries, it was decided in 1748 that tobacco-plantations
should be established near all towns, excepting those in the far north of the
country; these plantations were placed under controllers, who had to see that
a prescribed amount of Swedish tobacco was employed in every
tobacco-factory. At an earlier date, for the purpose of preventing smuggling, of which
complaints had often been made, it was prescribed that all tobacco, both native
and foreign, should pay stamp-duty, and in 1748 the existing restrictions
concerning the import of tobacco in the leaf were removed, and instead there was
imposed, in addition to the ordinary duty, a "consumption-excise", or tax, which
had to be paid by every man and woman that wished to use tobacco; this
latter payment amounted to not more than one silver "daler" for "noblemen,
clergymen, persons of quality, and the burghers in the large cities, for
smoking-tobacco"; a smaller sum was demanded from those using snuff; soldiers and
mariners in the service of the Crown were exempt from this payment. As a
peculiarity it may be mentioned that Gustavus III, 1785—1786, had
proposals drawn up for a State-monopoly of tobacco, which, however, in consequence
of the opposition offered by the Riksdag and of the unfortunate experiences
with regard to the Crown-distilleries, did not lead to the creation of the
proposed monopoly but merely occasioned the State some considerable expense.
From the beginning of the 19th century, the legislative measures concerning
tobacco become fewer and merely concerned the amount of duty to be paid.
During the last few years, proposals have been worked out, partly for a
manu-facturing-duty, and partly for a State-monopoly of the goods manufactured from
tobacco; this proposal, has been accepted by the Riksdag of 1914 which resolved
to form a State-monopoly for tobacco and, in this connection, to control the
cultivation of the tobacco-plant in Sweden. The monopoly can be made over by the
State to some other body or individual ; the cost-price of the manufactured article
shall also include the duty to be paid in the following proportion of the price:
for cigars and cigar-cigarettes ...■......15%
» cigarettes . ................20 »
» cut tobacco...............10»
» spun-, pressed- and roll-tobacco.......10 »
» snuff..................15»
The monopoly will come into force during 1915, on a day to be determined
by the Government.
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