Is hombrewing illegal in your state?

Living in a state where homebrewing is legal is something many of us take for granted. After reading another post on the board, I got to wondering in what states brewing is illegal. I know laws have been changing in recent years. Does anyone have a definitive list as of 2010? Just curious.

Yes. Mississippi and Alabama are the only 2 where its illegal. Utah received rights 2 years ago and Oklahoma was last year I believe. The motion was up again in a bill in the alabama house and it was shot down

The "powers that be" that shot down the argument for homebrewing probably use a very asinine and/or archaic reason for their negative view of this wonderful pursuit. I imagine it is akin to the downright silly argument against MMA being legal in NY state! (the naysayer is a boxing fan and feels MMA has no place in a civilized society, per a report on cagepotato.com)

catdaddy66 said:

The "powers that be" that shot down the argument for homebrewing probably use a very asinine and/or archaic reason for their negative view of this wonderful pursuit. I imagine it is akin to the downright silly argument against MMA being legal in NY state! (the naysayer is a boxing fan and feels MMA has no place in a civilized society, per a report on cagepotato.com)

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Just like the asinine and/or archaic arguments against a relative of our good friend the hop.

rjwhite41 said:

Just like the asinine and/or archaic arguments against a relative of our good friend the hop.

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Can you prost a post?

If you live in a state where X is illegal, your choices are:

1. Move out of the state.

2. Get legislation started to change X.

3. Start making molotov cocktails and setting up barricades.

Laws are just guidelines.

Like anyone would need a reason to leave Mississippi or Alabama.

Acoma said:

Laws are just guidelines.

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Maybe in your mind that's how it works.

But the reality is, they are in fact laws. And if the law enforcement officer that arrests you for going outside the "guidelines" doesn't understand this, I'm sure you can explain it to the judge, as to exactly how these guidelines work.

That should work out really well.

SKMO said:

Maybe in your mind that's how it works.

But the reality is, they are in fact laws. And if the law enforcement officer that arrests you for going outside the "guidelines" doesn't understand this, I'm sure you can explain it to the judge, as to exactly how these guidelines work.

That should work out really well.

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Wow!

Just offer the dude a nice cold homebrew and you are cool.

Seriously though. My area of my state does not allow alcohol sales on Sunday...so I was wondering...can I buy a beer kit?

SKMO said:

Maybe in your mind that's how it works.

But the reality is, they are in fact laws. And if the law enforcement officer that arrests you for going outside the "guidelines" doesn't understand this, I'm sure you can explain it to the judge, as to exactly how these guidelines work.

That should work out really well.

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Laws are hard limits that have consequences if broken.. Try jumping off a building with the idea that the law of gravity is just a guideline... the consequences of ignoring laws sometimes have a way of adjusting ones views about laws..

I'm really surprised though that there are any states at all where homebrewing is illegal... This has to be a result of either a holdover from prohibition or union/corporate lobbyists preventing competition, or both...

If it was ever made illegal in Wisconsin there would be riots. I'm talking Watts-size.

I think it's the Baptist influence, at least in Alabama and Mississippi. Mississippi continued Prohibition well into the 1960's. Homebrewing is probably illegal in dry counties elsewhere in the country - Texas and Kentucky have a lot of them.

I grew up in a state where it was illegal to sell alcohol on Sundays, yet we had drive-up liquor windows where you could buy booze without ever getting out of your car. This combination often caused a "last call rush" epidemic of drunk driving on Saturday nights.* People wondered why we had the highest DUI rate in the country. Talk about mixed-up priorities. Sunday laws were eventually repealed, and the drive-ups were banned.

*See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_o'clock_swill

I doubt it would ever be illegal in the Peoples Socialist Republic of Commiefornia.. However, I would not be surprised if they found a way to 'tax' the crap out of it...

They even want to put meters on our wells and charge us taxes for the water we draw from them...

neovox said:

Living in a state where homebrewing is legal is something many of us take for granted. After reading another post on the board, I got to wondering in what states brewing is illegal. I know laws have been changing in recent years. Does anyone have a definitive list as of 2010? Just curious.

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It's legal here in Montana. Regards, GF.

I wish they'd make it legal here in CA to sell small amounts at farmers markets..

I want to get into making bread and cheese and eventually wine.. I think it would be a fun thing to do to set up a booth at a farmers market once a month and sell those four items along side the other people selling produce...

Would be a great way to have a local homebrewing club.. Could have the get togethers on the same day as market...

SickTransitMundus said:

I think it's the Baptist influence, at least in Alabama and Mississippi. Mississippi continued Prohibition well into the 1960's.

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It's sad when people use the Bible to condemn something that the Bible encourages... What they're really doing is trying to force their own 'personal' convictions on others... using the Bible to scare people into giving more authority to their opinions than they deserve...

Homebrewing is probably illegal in dry counties elsewhere in the country - Texas and Kentucky have a lot of them.

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Texas and Kentucky?? Those are places where I think of 'drinking'.. LOL..

FYI, Kentucky bourbon was originally started by a prominent Baptist Minister... Go figure...

It really is interesting that there are still places where it is illegal, yet there are now a couple states looking to give homebrewers the right to sell just like any other vendor at a farmer's market type setup.

IrregularPulse said:

It really is interesting that there are still places where it is illegal, yet there are now a couple states looking to give homebrewers the right to sell just like any other vendor at a farmer's market type setup.

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That's what I'd like to see here.. Although the state would probably want to regulate and tax the crap out of it.. Taking any and all possibility of any profit from it.. Which I could deal with seeing as I would be doing it more for the social aspects of it than anything, but they would probably make the paperwork and filing regulations such a hassle that all the fun would be taken from it...

Yeah, If Ohio jumps on board I could see getting a booth at our farmer's market. I wouldn't care about a profit, as long as it paid for the ingredients and any fees I'd need for the marketplace. Probably just sell growlers though or bombers filled from the tap. I aint bottling for other people!

r8rphan said:

FYI, Kentucky bourbon was originally started by a prominent Baptist Minister... Go figure...

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Jack Daniels is produced in a dry county. It is distilled entirely in Moore County, but cannot be sold there. They had to get special dispensation from the TN legislature to sell commemorative "glassware" (which, of course, contains whiskey) at the distillery.

SKMO said:

Maybe in your mind that's how it works.

But the reality is, they are in fact laws. And if the law enforcement officer that arrests you for going outside the "guidelines" doesn't understand this, I'm sure you can explain it to the judge, as to exactly how these guidelines work.

That should work out really well.

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Tell that to people with really good lawyers! OJ anyone?

olsond said:

Tell that to people with really good lawyers! OJ anyone?

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Where is OJ living now?

SickTransitMundus said:

Jack Daniels is produced in a dry county. It is distilled entirely in Moore County, but cannot be sold there. They had to get special dispensation from the TN legislature to sell commemorative "glassware" (which, of course, contains whiskey) at the distillery.

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That's the epitome of hypocrisy..

You pass a law against something that you think is harmful to people, but you allow it to be produced and sold to 'other' people that is not part of your group? It's okay to harm them (in your mind), but not your own?

That's like pimping your neighbors daughter out as a prostitute, but not allowing your own to date...

r8rphan said:

Where is OJ living now?

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OJ is a guest of the state of Nevada at Lovelock Correctional Facility. He will continue to be treated to their hospitality for a minimum of 6 more years, after which he will write a book entitled "IF I Robbed Those Guys".

SickTransitMundus said:

OJ is a guest of the state of Nevada at Lovelock Correctional Facility. He will continue to be treated to their hospitality for a minimum of 6 more years, after which he will write a book entitled "IF I Robbed Those Guys".

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Exactly.. His attitude of "rules are guidelines" has ultimately proven to have 'consequences'...

r8rphan said:

Exactly.. His attitude of "rules are guidelines" has ultimately proven to have 'consequences'...

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Relax bud I was just joking with the guideline comment. You must be the most ethical Raider fan alive.

Acoma said:

Relax bud I was just joking with the guideline comment. You must be the most ethical Raider fan alive.

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I don't live in Oakland...

Mississippi legalized homebrewing!
Yay!

One more state to go

r8rphan said:

That's like pimping your neighbors daughter out as a prostitute, but not allowing your own to date...

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Well?! That escalated quickly??!! haha