Why is Alcohol Content Referred to as Proof?

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The process began in England around the 16th century. Its original purpose was not consumer protection, but rather to ensure that the state (read: the King) collected the proper amount of taxes on the sale of the product (alcohol, called proof spirits, was taxed at a higher rate).

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Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absinthe
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140109-absinthe-a-literary-muse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_by_volume
http://www.andygreenlaw.com/posts/alcohol-volume-popular-whiskeys-vodka-gin-rum/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_proof
http://gizmodo.com/5935493/five-scientifically-surprising-facts-about-booze
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_gravity
https://socratic.org/questions/which-liquid-water-or-alcohol-has-stronger-intermolecular-forces
https://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080908002250AArnUDu
https://www.britannica.com/demystified/why-is-alcohol-measured-by-proof
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-ethanol-less-dense-than-water
http://www.wormwoodsociety.org/index.php/102-news-and-information/items/187-yes-real-absinthe-is-leg...

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