Alabama vote.

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It passed the committee vote with only 1 member voting no! Let's hope it goes all the way this year.
 
Hopefully forge people who voted no on the bill last year got to hear the audio recordings from last year and realized that they sounded like a bunch of ignorant hicks.
 
Some of these people are really hard to understand hahahah! These people opposing this are insane! The law that they are proposing would allow 100 gallons per year, not 100 gallons at a time. Which isn't even that much. The one guy didn't even know what mead was!
 
I heard the bill coming out of comittee would set the homebrew limit in Alabama to 15 gallons every three months. Yeah, one five gallon batch a month. I suppose something is better than nothing, but man I hope I heard wrong. My parents live down there and my dad might not have got the info right. Maybe someone can correct me about that.

"M-E-A-D, what is mead?"
 
"M-E-A-D, what is mead?"

This is one of the things that really bothers me. When politicians almost seem to be proud to be ignorant of the things they oppose. Its your job, as a legislator, so understand what you're supporting or opposing.
 
1 HB354
2 127048-3
3 By Representatives McCutcheon, Ball, Hubbard (J), Mask,
4 McClammy, Beech, Warren, Sanderford, Williams (P),
5 Robinson (O), Rogers, Moore (M), Patterson and Williams (D)
6 RFD: Economic Development and Tourism
7 First Read: 16-FEB-12
Page 0
1 127048-3:n:02/16/2012:MCS/tj LRS2011-1288R1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 SYNOPSIS: This bill would allow adult persons to
9 produce homebrewed beer, mead, cider, and wine in
10 limited amounts for personal use; would prohibit a
11 person convicted of a felony from homebrewing; and
12 would provide for a Class C misdemeanor punishment
13 for violations of this act.
14 Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama
15 of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the
16 Official Recompilation of the Constitution of
17 Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general
18 law whose purpose or effect would be to require a
19 new or increased expenditure of local funds from
20 becoming effective with regard to a local
21 governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote
22 unless: it comes within one of a number of
23 specified exceptions; it is approved by the
24 affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates
25 funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to
26 the entity for the purpose.
Page 1
1 The purpose or effect of this bill would be
2 to require a new or increased expenditure of local
3 funds within the meaning of the amendment. However,
4 the bill does not require approval of a local
5 governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to
6 become effective because it comes within one of the
7 specified exceptions contained in the amendment.
8
9 A BILL
10 TO BE ENTITLED
11 AN ACT
12
13 To permit adult persons to produce a limited
14 homebrewed beer, mead, cider, and wine for personal use; to
15 prohibit a convicted felon from homebrewing such beverages; to
16 provide penalties for violations; and in connection therewith
17 would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new
18 or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of
19 Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now
20 appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of
21 the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
23 Section 1. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions to the
24 contrary, a person who has not been convicted of a felony
25 conviction in Alabama or any other state or federal
26 jurisdiction, and who is not prohibited by Section 28-1-5,
27 Code of Alabama 1975, from purchasing, consuming, possessing,
Page 2
1 or transporting alcoholic beverages due to age may produce
2 beer, mead, cider, and wine for personal and noncommercial
3 uses, in the amounts specified in this section, without
4 payment of taxes or fees and without obtaining a license. The
5 aggregate amount of the beer, mead, cider, and wine permitted
6 to be produced under this section, with respect to any
7 household, shall not exceed 15 gallons for each quarter of a
8 calendar year.
9 (b) Beer, mead, cider, or wine produced under this
10 section may not be sold or offered for sale.
11 (c) Beer, mead, cider, or wine produced under this
12 section may be removed from the premises where it was produced
13 and may be transported for personal and noncommercial uses,
14 including use at organized events, such as homebrewing
15 competitions, tastings, judgings, and craft exhibitions.
16 Organized events involving beer, mead, cider, or wine produced
17 for personal use may be held on the premises of entities
18 licensed under Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, without
19 violating the terms or conditions of licensure.
20 (d) Nothing in this section permits the production
21 of distilled liquors, such as bourbon, whiskey, rum, or vodka,
22 for personal use or otherwise.
23 (e) Nothing in this section permits a person less
24 than 21 years of age to purchase, consume, possess, or
25 transport beer, mead, cider, or wine produced for personal
26 use.
Page 3
1 (f) Nothing in this section permits the production
2 of beer, mead, cider, and wine in a dry municipality, as the
3 term is defined in Chapter 3 of Title 28, Code of Alabama
4 1975, and, with the exception of wet municipalities, as the
5 term is defined in Chapter 3 of Title 28, Code of Alabama
6 1975, nothing in this section permits the production of beer,
7 mead, cider, and wine in a dry county, as defined in Chapter 3
8 of Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975.
9 (g) Any violation of this section shall be a Class C
10 misdemeanor.
11 Section 2. Although this bill would have as its
12 purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased
13 expenditure of local funds, the bill is excluded from further
14 requirements and application under Amendment 621, now
15 appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of
16 the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, because the
17 bill defines a new crime or amends the definition of an
18 existing crime.
19 Section 3. This act shall become effective
20 immediately following its passage and approval by the
21 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
1 HB354
2 127048-3
3 By Representatives McCutcheon, Ball, Hubbard (J), Mask,
4 McClammy, Beech, Warren, Sanderford, Williams (P),
5 Robinson (O), Rogers, Moore (M), Patterson and Williams (D)
6 RFD: Economic Development and Tourism
7 First Read: 16-FEB-12
Page 0
1 127048-3:n:02/16/2012:MCS/tj LRS2011-1288R1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 SYNOPSIS: This bill would allow adult persons to
9 produce homebrewed beer, mead, cider, and wine in
10 limited amounts for personal use; would prohibit a
11 person convicted of a felony from homebrewing; and
12 would provide for a Class C misdemeanor punishment
13 for violations of this act.
14 Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama
15 of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the
16 Official Recompilation of the Constitution of
17 Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general
18 law whose purpose or effect would be to require a
19 new or increased expenditure of local funds from
20 becoming effective with regard to a local
21 governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote
22 unless: it comes within one of a number of
23 specified exceptions; it is approved by the
24 affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates
25 funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to
26 the entity for the purpose.
Page 1
1 The purpose or effect of this bill would be
2 to require a new or increased expenditure of local
3 funds within the meaning of the amendment. However,
4 the bill does not require approval of a local
5 governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to
6 become effective because it comes within one of the
7 specified exceptions contained in the amendment.
8
9 A BILL
10 TO BE ENTITLED
11 AN ACT
12
13 To permit adult persons to produce a limited
14 homebrewed beer, mead, cider, and wine for personal use; to
15 prohibit a convicted felon from homebrewing such beverages; to
16 provide penalties for violations; and in connection therewith
17 would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new
18 or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of
19 Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now
20 appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of
21 the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
23 Section 1. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions to the
24 contrary, a person who has not been convicted of a felony
25 conviction in Alabama or any other state or federal
26 jurisdiction, and who is not prohibited by Section 28-1-5,
27 Code of Alabama 1975, from purchasing, consuming, possessing,
Page 2
1 or transporting alcoholic beverages due to age may produce
2 beer, mead, cider, and wine for personal and noncommercial
3 uses, in the amounts specified in this section, without
4 payment of taxes or fees and without obtaining a license. The
5 aggregate amount of the beer, mead, cider, and wine permitted
6 to be produced under this section, with respect to any
7 household, shall not exceed 15 gallons for each quarter of a
8 calendar year.
9 (b) Beer, mead, cider, or wine produced under this
10 section may not be sold or offered for sale.
11 (c) Beer, mead, cider, or wine produced under this
12 section may be removed from the premises where it was produced
13 and may be transported for personal and noncommercial uses,
14 including use at organized events, such as homebrewing
15 competitions, tastings, judgings, and craft exhibitions.
16 Organized events involving beer, mead, cider, or wine produced
17 for personal use may be held on the premises of entities
18 licensed under Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, without
19 violating the terms or conditions of licensure.
20 (d) Nothing in this section permits the production
21 of distilled liquors, such as bourbon, whiskey, rum, or vodka,
22 for personal use or otherwise.
23 (e) Nothing in this section permits a person less
24 than 21 years of age to purchase, consume, possess, or
25 transport beer, mead, cider, or wine produced for personal
26 use.
Page 3
1 (f) Nothing in this section permits the production
2 of beer, mead, cider, and wine in a dry municipality, as the
3 term is defined in Chapter 3 of Title 28, Code of Alabama
4 1975, and, with the exception of wet municipalities, as the
5 term is defined in Chapter 3 of Title 28, Code of Alabama
6 1975, nothing in this section permits the production of beer,
7 mead, cider, and wine in a dry county, as defined in Chapter 3
8 of Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975.
9 (g) Any violation of this section shall be a Class C
10 misdemeanor.
11 Section 2. Although this bill would have as its
12 purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased
13 expenditure of local funds, the bill is excluded from further
14 requirements and application under Amendment 621, now
15 appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of
16 the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, because the
17 bill defines a new crime or amends the definition of an
18 existing crime.
19 Section 3. This act shall become effective
20 immediately following its passage and approval by the
21 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
Page 4

15 gallons per quarter isn't much but if it gets the bill passed then I am for it.
 
But hey, at least you'd be able to take it to comps, unlike in Wisconsin (or did that bill pass the WI legislature yet, I know it made it through at least one of the houses), so there's a sunny side ;)
 
Looks to me like making big beers is better since you can only do 15gall/3months/household in a wet county. Or Honey and Beer (Methligins?). The don't seem to talk about how much you can have on hand. Presumably it is 'start' 15 gallons, not 'have on hand 15 gallons' If that were the case, there would be no aging of wine.
 
I am a fan of the Belgian beers anyway.
If we can just get it to the point where homebrewing isn't illegal here it will be a major victory.
 
Oh also looks like you can take it to places that have a liquer lisc (say wedding reception?) and have it consumed there.

"Organized events involving beer, mead, cider, or wine produced
17 for personal use may be held on the premises of entities
18 licensed under Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, without
19 violating the terms or conditions of licensure."

Although may that is just saying "if the beer competition is at a pub, that's ok". But I'd claim a wedding reception to be a "Organized events involving beer, mead, cider, or wine"
 
Good luck Alabama! I'm surprised they'd have the bit about it being legal to transport but then impose such a small production scale. I'd rather it be that way than the other way around though, much easier to get in trouble for transporting homebrew than for producing too much.
 
They were supposed to vote on it last Tuesday but they had filibusters of two bills ahead of ours. The earliest chance for a vote will be April 12th.
Our main opposition are these lunatics. ALCAP the self proclaimed "Alabama's Moral Compass".
 
Looks like there might have been some sort of amendment to the bill yesterday, but I'm not really familiar with AL political procedures.
 
They were supposed to vote on it last Tuesday but they had filibusters of two bills ahead of ours. The earliest chance for a vote will be April 12th.
Our main opposition are these lunatics. ALCAP the self proclaimed "Alabama's Moral Compass".

I love people who are so thoroughly dedicated to saving me from myself..... :drunk:
 
Pardon my ignorance on this issue, but I'm curious...

Is it legal to ship brewing supplies (equipment, ingredients, etc) to Alabama residents?
Can residents order from on-line out of state suppliers?
 
Pardon my ignorance on this issue, but I'm curious...

Is it legal to ship brewing supplies (equipment, ingredients, etc) to Alabama residents?
Can residents order from on-line out of state suppliers?

Yes we can order from online out of state suppliers. We also have HBS in Alabama.
It's legal to buy anything and everything homebrew here but it's illegal to brew. :drunk:
 
It's legal to buy anything and everything homebrew here but it's illegal to brew. :drunk:

Now that is bass ackwards and flippin insane.

It's OK to pay the state tax on equipment and ingredients but not OK to put the kettle on a flame or feed the yeast.

Wow.

They would have a hard time keeping the flame out under my brewpot.

Good luck on the vote this week...Keep up the good fight. :mug:
 
Since there are no taxes generated form homebrew itself they don't seem to care whether it's legal or not.
They don't seem to realize that homebrew legalization translates into more tax revenue due to higher sales on ingredients and equipment.
I think we have a good enough bill to get it passed this time. It is sponsored by 14 representatives from every walk of life so that is a good thing. The bill is highly restrictive but if that is what it takes to get the toe in the door then so be it.
 
Agree, aubie.

The biggest problem is the "morals police". I wrote my rep, but I think he is a solid Bible thumping no. He has voted against every beer related bill that has come up.

I got this email today:

The homebrew bill is on the calendar for tomorrow (Apr. 19).

The bad news is it's behind the illegal alien bill revision.

Bill Miller
Right To Brew
 
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