Thomas v Sorrell

Thomas v Sorrell was a 1673 English court case that challenged a law restricting the sale of alcohol to prevent excessive drinking. The court ruled the law was unconstitutional because it violated individuals' rights to trade and personal liberty. This case helped establish that laws interfering with private rights need proper justification, influencing later legal principles about freedom of commerce and limitations on government regulation. In simple terms, it confirmed that laws can't unfairly restrict people's ability to sell or buy goods unless there's a good reason.