Early Laws of Beer

Early Laws of Beer
Beer was regulated early in its history. The code of Hammurabi, an ancient set of written laws from the twenty third century BC, lists laws and penalties levied against women beer shop owners.

There were no less than four separate articles in the ancient code dealing with beer-sellers and ships.

“If a (female) beer seller has not accepted grain as the price of drink, but silver by the full weight was accepted and has made the price of drink less than the price of grain, then that beer seller shall be prosecuted and thrown into the water.”

“If rebels meet in the house of a beer-seller, and she does not seize them and take them to the great house, that beer seller shall be slain.”

“If a priestess or holy sister who has not remained in the convent shall open a beer shop or enter a beer-shop for drink, that woman shall be burned.”

“If a beer-seller has given sixty qua of drink on credit for a festival, at the harvest she shall receive fifty qua of grain.”

It is interesting to note the first quotation is a price regulation with a penalty involving water. It is possible this punishment was similar to the dunking chair used centuries later in England and colonial America, pr perhaps swimming skills were not well known at that time, resulting in the probable drowning of the offender.

The second quotation involves the use of the beer-shop as the location for plotting insurrection. It would appear that some of the beer-houses were less than reputable establishments.

Not all women brewers in the ancient world were keepers of back-alley haunts suitable for plotting treason.

The Sumerian honored women brewers in daily life as well as in religion. Their-deity was the goddess Nin-Ka-Si and legend states that Nin-Ka-Si had a daughter Siris, who was the goddess of the wort (unfermented beer).

At least one lady rose beyond mere brewing. Ku-Baba was a Tsabitu (breweress), who lived in ancient Sumer in the year 2400 BC.

She went on to be successful. Ku-Baba founded the city of Kish, northeast of Babylon. She became sovereign of the city and founded the Dynasty of Kish.
Early Laws of Beer