Already in the X and XI centuries. in the history of Russia there are indications of the taxation of spirits (medovayadan collection with malt brashnaya duties, etc..). Quite early in the sale of hard liquor is the subject of official monopoly, and when John III itself distilling concentrated in the hands of the government, even though the original purpose of a monopoly - only moral police, and not financial. For example, when Ivan the Terrible in...