By the beginning of the 18th century, gin had become the national drink of England. Between 1600 and 1730, the annual production of gin rose from half a million to five million gallons. An official commission in 1750 reported that one fifth of London houses were gin shops. By this point, taxes on the spirit were so low that a pint of gin was in fact cheaper than a pint of beer. England was then producing 20 million gallons of gin a year.

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