regie

plural regies · alternative régie

1. A government monopoly, such as on tobacco, typically used to raise revenue (via taxes).

   What is a regie government? Mr. BARKER. Where the government owns the tobacco absolutely, puts the price on it and sells it.

   1920, United States. Congress. House Ways and Means, Dark Export Tobacco, Hearings, Mar. 2-24, 1920, page 4

   3 more examples

   But these Regies, or foreign monopolies, also prevent the growers of Tobacco of this country, from entering into competition with the foreign grower, which they would successfully do if the market were open to them[…]

   1837, The Southern Agriculturist and Register of Rural Affairs: Adapted to the Southern Section of the United States, page 493

   Throughout Italy monopolies of tobacco exist, either being a regie of the state, or it is farmed out by the government. In Sardinia, it is a regie, and the profits from the monopoly must be very great.

   1840, Niles' National Register, page 202

   The influence of the tobacco industry on the affairs of the European nations led some years ago to the establishment of tobacco regies or boards of control in practically all of them.

   1918, United States. Bureau of the Census, Stocks of Leaf Tobacco and the American Production, Imports, Exports, and Consumption of Tobacco and Tobacco Products, page 4