An act for the more effectual prevention of the manufacturing ash, elder, floe, and other leaves, in imitation of tea, and to prevent frauds in the revenue of excise with respect to tea.
It was passed in 1718. The Act provided a penalty of £20 (equivalent to about £3,300 in 2021) "against divers [diverse] evil-disposed persons who at the time or soon after roasting of coffee, make use of water, grease, butter, or such like material whereby the same is made unwholesome and greatly increased in weight, to the prejudice of His Majesty's Revenue, the health of his subjects, and to the loss of all fair and honest dealers."
When coffee fell out of fashion, in favour of tea, a similar law was then introduced, the Adulteration of Tea Act 1776.
When recent Governor of CeylonViscount Torrington presented a petition in 1854 to similar, reinforcing effect, namely to counter the use of chicory for mixing—as coffee was by 1854 subject to a duty of 75% on top of the London market price—he stressed another piece of legislation had strong effect.[2] He also mentioned coffee as the main export item at that time of Ceylon.[2] This reinforcement was the Act 43 Geo. 3. c. 129 (the Excise Act 1803) such that no vegetable substance resembling coffee was permitted on the premises of licensed coffee dealers.[2]
^ abThe citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.
