Item JM-AIY/OttomanRegisters/Vol10/p28a/item147 - Upon a letter sent by the Public Debts Administration regarding alcohols prices, 4 January 1905 (Gregorian calendar) - 22 Kânûn Awwal 1320 (Ottoman fiscal calendar (Rumi)

Upon the letter, dated 25 November 1904 and numbered 61, relegated by the Public Debts Administration regarding the pricing of alcohols, and returned by the Administrative Council’s decision to have a re-examination and determine a suitable price
With the order and decision by the Sanjak Administrative Council, the German August and also Hovace Biruze (?), an alcohol producer and an experienced expert, were summoned to our council in the presence of the Director of the Public Debts Administration and a talk was held with them. When the beer producer August was questioned about his objection and demands, he said that, as specified in the hereby presented letter by the consulate, the pricing of beer over their sale with bottle would be at his disadvantage and demanded that the said price be determined over barrel. In the 4. article of the special regulation regarding the taxes to be collected from beer producers, there is no clarity with respect to the method of pricing of alcohols over their wholesale or retail sales, and it is pointed out that the only point to be taken into consideration for appraisals shall be their value in the said region. Therefore, for the determination of prices, both wholesale and retail sales are taken into consideration and an average limit is estimated and set accordingly. As also confirmed with August’s objection, it is sold wholesale or by retail with bottles in Jerusalem, rarely with bottles, and a bottle of beer containing only one-third kilo is sold for 2 piasters at the rate of daric-i bender. Hence, it has been considered appropriate and equable to determine each kilo of bira as 2 piasters as respected current akçe Nevertheless, it has been estimated that, if, as presented, the fact that beer is rarely sold with barrels is taken into account and it is assumed that each barrel of beer would be only 1 piasters as claimed by the demandant August, the cost of each kilo would decrease on average to 0.6 piasters in comparison to its price as sold with bottles. The price of the other alcohol has been considered appropriate. The 22nd of Kânûn Awwal (1)320 (4th of January 1905).