The Licensing (Scotland) Act 1853, known as the Forbes Mackenzie Act, regulated the supply of intoxicating drink in Scotland. It imposed stricter controls on opening hours, including Sunday restrictions. The law became a major Scottish example of Victorian alcohol regulation.

Scottish pub regulation forms part of the background to later Scottish and working-class writing about respectability, Sabbatarianism, and drink. It helps contextualize poems and songs that set convivial Burnsian tradition against evangelical discipline. This cultural tension became a rich source of inspiration for poets exploring the nuances of Scottish identity and social norms.