Sumptuary Law Law and Legal Definition
Sumptuary law refers to governmental control over extravagances that are for personal gratification. In the U.S., federal laws on alcohol include sumptuary laws that are directed at a purchaser. Any law the purpose of which is to regulate immoral conduct such as prostitution or drug abuse is considered as sumptuary law. A sumptuary tax seeks to limit consumption of an item and may also be called a sin tax or luxury tax.
