Alabama Homebrew Legalization

SSBrew - 728
Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
BendBrewer said:
And here I thought people in the South were all for Liberties?

Did I miss a meeting?
Click to expand...

Many in the south are all for liberty and freedom from government so long as it doesn't offend their morals.

Your idea of what's moral is irrelevant to them, because like most all do-gooders, they know what's best for you.

Best of luck to you good folks in Alabama.
 
Ya this has nothing to do with AB at all......../sarcasm off
http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/2008/0...ma-group-calls-for-boycott-of-anheuser-busch/

This fight is not at the public vs. elected official level...It is the micro brewer/craft brewer vs. mega-giant brewer top dog.

Do not like that link? Try renting "Beer Wars".... AB alone last year gave more money in political contributions than tobacco and firearms combined.....now that that has sunk in....Do you really think that AB wants you to brew your own after they have lined the pockets of the officials??????

It is going to take an act of divinity to get this fixed.....but I hope it does get fixed. BTW I do not allow AB products in my house unless it is to cut the top off a keg to make a keggle (legally obtained)....now that is irony....

And do not think Miller/Coors is my buddies or yours either.....
 
Zamial said:
Ya this has nothing to do with AB at all......../sarcasm off
http://www.blogaboutbeer.com/2008/0...ma-group-calls-for-boycott-of-anheuser-busch/

This fight is not at the public vs. elected official level...It is the micro brewer/craft brewer vs. mega-giant brewer top dog.

Do not like that link? Try renting "Beer Wars".... AB alone last year gave more money in political contributions than tobacco and firearms combined.....now that that has sunk in....Do you really think that AB wants you to brew your own after they have lined the pockets of the officials??????

It is going to take an act of divinity to get this fixed.....but I hope it does get fixed. BTW I do not allow AB products in my house unless it is to cut the top off a keg to make a keggle (legally obtained)....now that is irony....

And do not think Miller/Coors is my buddies or yours either.....
Click to expand...

Isn't AB foreign owned now?

Foreign companies influencing America politics and laws?

Didn't someone recently warn us about such foreign intrusion in Americans' lives?
 
We have the runoff for the Republican nominee for governor coming up fairly soon. I've been researching the candidates as much as possible to figure out their positions on beer-related legislation. I haven't received specific word from the Bradley Byrne campaign, but the report is that Byrne does enjoy a good beer on occasion and would be generally inclined to support beer legislation (or at least not oppose it), though he (understandably) won't make a public statement on it. That fits pretty well with my impression that he is much like Riley on a lot of issues.

I had heard rumors that Robert Bentley was pretty well opposed to alcohol legislation, and one of my friends reported that he came out solidly opposed to Free the Hops at the Governor's Forum in Huntsville back in March. He was reported to say that he would vote against any alcohol legislation no matter what. I just managed to get through to someone at his campaign headquarters to confirm those statements. She said that Bentley is opposed to having the state involved in the alcohol business as a competitor to private industry (i.e. he doesn't like having government run ABC stores). However, she said he is completely opposed to legalizing homebrewing and to making it easier to manufacture wine in your home. She said he was also opposed to the Free the Hops bill and his position has not changed.

I know that alcohol issues aren't the only ones that go into our decisions on how to vote, but on the beer issues that are important to many of us, Byrne is by far the better candidate.
 
I'm with you....I'm selfish when it comes to my vote, so keep us up todate.....So we can vote for beer.......
 
Good info, being a pretty dirty liberal at heart, I mostly vote Dem anyway. If they'd just leave our damned guns alone, I'd probably even register as a party member but the bastards just won't quit trying to screw with my right to own cool guns.
 
Grimster said:
If they'd just leave our damned guns alone, I'd probably even register as a party member but the bastards just won't quit trying to screw with my right to own cool guns.
Click to expand...

You just hit the nail on the head about my biggest beef with my political party of choice. I live up in Northeastern Illinois and one of the biggest reasons I moved from the city to the suburbs just got fixed by the Supreme Court.

Sure wish there was something I could do to help you Alabamians. It's ridiculous that homebrewing and winemaking would be illegal anywhere.
 
Someday I want to live in a state where government is not controlled by people who can't seperate their religious beliefs from politics.....Nothing wrong with have a religious belief but don't go using a position of power to push those beliefs or morals on others...
 
But god told them to smite the wicked and use their religion to influence the rest of the world to believe.
"Sparks 2010"
 
Yeah, that a was a major blow for homebrew in Alabama last night. Even so, no way I can bring myself to vote for Sparks. While I do enjoy my homebrew and will continue brewing with or without reform, I don't really want a bingo hall on every corner. That's what you'll get with Sparks.
 
Heres the question. Will this law really effect you?? Will the government break in your door and take all of your equipment and homebrew. Will they slap you with some type of fine??

Or is this just another one of those laws thats under the radar that no one really follows.
 
I dont want bingo halls everywhere either, but its not my decision to tell others what they can do with their money or where they can spend it. it would seem contrary to the ideas we spout to advocate for one illegal activity and then be judgemental with another.
if people want to gamble, so be it and gamble your house away if you want, if the pot heads want legal marijuana and can get the law changed, go for it.
I personally choose to do with my money what I want to do with my money, and unless you gave it to me with the stipulation I cant use it to gamble, and I accept those terms, whatever you like or dont like about gambling with MY money is not really any of your business. I am not directing this at anyone, I am just explaining my position. I can only imagine that if I went to YOUR house and tried to tell YOU what YOU could do with YOUR money, YOU would not tolerate that for a minute.
Gambling, drugs, alcohol, prostitution, food, and everything else we guilt ourselves into as taboo, is not the problem, education is the answer, and if we dont teach our kids the problems with each of the choices they make, it's our fault, not the casinos, brewerys, bars, whore houses, or restaurants that cause the problem. until we as Americans realize these simple truths, we will always be chasing a solution to problems we create ourselves out of laziness and passification.
sorry for the rant, but that struck a nerve...lol, I really didnt mean that directed at one person, but at all of those that think they know better whats good for others, even when they havent been asked. kinda like my rant........

btw, "Sparks 2010" baby..........
 
v2comp said:
I dont want bingo halls everywhere either, but its not my decision to tell others what they can do with their money or where they can spend it.

btw, "Sparks 2010" baby..........
Click to expand...

If there are SO MANY people who want to gamble that it requires a bingo hall on every corner (a bingo hall with employees, generating taxable revenue mind you) then so be it. I don't complain that there's nearly a church on every corner, though churches are tax free but whatever, there's enough people to keep them viable so be it.

I don't go to strip clubs, but hey if you want to see naked chicks and spend your money at one, ROCK on. I don't personally like a lot of things but hey, as long as you're not jamming it down my throat, live and let live I say.

Don't tell me how to spend my money and time and I won't tell you how to spend yours, as long as neither one of us is harming someone ELSE with our pursuits whose business is it anyway, I say. Don't tell me I can't homebrew legally and I won't tell you you can't see naked boobies or go to church every day or have an abortion or whatever.

And yes, futile as it may be, I will probably just vote party line Dem again, knowing my vote is wasted, again (as an Alabama resident).
 
jonbomb said:
Will the government break in your door and take all of your equipment and homebrew.
Click to expand...
I believe you get a notice first, because it is not a well known law. After that they come take your stuff and hit you with a fine, but I've never heard of it happening. Close, but never to the point of seizure of property.
jonbomb said:
Heres the question. Will this law really effect you??
... Or is this just another one of those laws thats under the radar that no one really follows.
Click to expand...
Well its not like super enforced, but it still hampers the beer industry. We have some of the most impossible laws ever when it comes to opening a microbrewery. Also have restrictions on what abv% beers can be sold here and in what sized containers.
 
jonbomb said:
Heres the question. Will this law really effect you?? Will the government break in your door and take all of your equipment and homebrew. Will they slap you with some type of fine??

Or is this just another one of those laws thats under the radar that no one really follows.
Click to expand...

there have been only a couple of incidents where peoples equipment was taken, and I dont know of any fines, but thats not the point!
I have been to many brew festivals all over the country, and I am always embarassed to say that I live in a State where the consumption of alcohol is considered a sin and "Serves no good purpose" (senator Hank Irwin, 2009 AL)

if you dont live in a state that can host the National Homebrewers Conference, then yeah, it is enforcing itself!

my views on this are simple, if I want to brew a beer and share it with other adults for FREE, I should be able too. if I wanted to sell it, I need to get a license and pay taxes on it.
 
I hate to say it and get political. These problems are from the people in congress who are stripping us from our rights. All of the people who are trying to strip us of our right slowly.

The same people who want to totally abolish hand guns all together. The same people who put raise taxes on cigars just because they say "they are unhealthy for you and the environment" so they tax them. The same people who are taxing tanning salons all over the united states...(I don't use tanning salong my GF does)

These republicans you speak of that want home brewing illegal are nothing but fakes. I have the right to do whatever I want with my money. I am not selling it I am making it for my own consumption. Believe me they will find something about homebrewing that is too "dangerous" or "unhealthy" for us. Just like how they somehow banned salt used in cooking in New York city restraunts. These people want control over us... All I say is if you don't like it. Get them voted OUT.
 
v2comp said:
if you dont live in a state that can host the National Homebrewers Conference, then yeah, it is enforcing itself!

my views on this are simple, if I want to brew a beer and share it with other adults for FREE, I should be able too. if I wanted to sell it, I need to get a license and pay taxes on it.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. Never Ever Ever let religion come between you and politics its nothing but a failure. I am Roman Catholic I brew beer I drink it. I even gave some to my pastor. That is just absolutely rediculous. God will not smite me for drinking beer and sharing it. Drinking beer is not a sin...
 
Wow. Looks like I stirred the pot somehow. Totally didn't mean to.

First. Not saying that I want to tell anybody how to spend their money. Pretty sure we won't be getting any bingo in my neighborhood. But if you want to play bingo, have at it. If you are on welfare (aka spending my money) stay home.

Second. Not sure how this became about religion. We can keep deluding ourselves that the alcohol situation in Alabama is due to religion. The alcohol situation in Alabama is due to outside influences (InBev, the distributors, big beer lobby) and people riding the coat tails of that influence to places of power in our government. Sure they pander to the tea-totallers, but make no mistake it all boils down to dollars.

Third. Vote for Ron Sparks if that is your concience. At least you're voting. But hold your breath and wait for him to help out any homebrew related cause. He is going to be so busy paying back his Casino-Interest backers, he won't have a second to even think about homebrew or brewery modernization.

That is all.
 
jonbomb said:
I hate to say it and get political. These problems are from the people in congress who are stripping us from our rights. All of the people who are trying to strip us of our right slowly.

The same people who want to totally abolish hand guns all together. The same people who put raise taxes on cigars just because they say "they are unhealthy for you and the environment" so they tax them. The same people who are taxing tanning salons all over the united states...(I don't use tanning salong my GF does)
Click to expand...

I gotta disagree momentarily with you. These are 2 very different kinds of people who want to take away rights. The Fundamentalist Republicans who want to restrict alcohol & other immoral activities believe they believe they have privileged knowledge of God's views & he told them alcohol & such is bad, so we must restrict it. This is different from some (but not all) Democrats who believe they know what's good for people better than the people do and want to restrict guns & such. It just happens that the Fundamentalist Republicans like to align themselves with Fiscal Republicans (who can be more like Libertarians on moral issues) even though they really are different creatures.

Personally, the fundamentalists scare me more. When people think they have special knowledge of God's wish & the right to impose them on others, often bads things happen like planes get flown into towers.

Crap, we really gotta get back to beer. . .
 
iShadrak said:
Wow. Looks like I stirred the pot somehow. Totally didn't mean to.

First. Not saying that I want to tell anybody how to spend their money. Pretty sure we won't be getting any bingo in my neighborhood. But if you want to play bingo, have at it. If you are on welfare (aka spending my money) stay home.

Second. Not sure how this became about religion. We can keep deluding ourselves that the alcohol situation in Alabama is due to religion. The alcohol situation in Alabama is due to outside influences (InBev, the distributors, big beer lobby) and people riding the coat tails of that influence to places of power in our government. Sure they pander to the tea-totallers, but make no mistake it all boils down to dollars.

Third. Vote for Ron Sparks if that is your concience. At least you're voting. But hold your breath and wait for him to help out any homebrew related cause. He is going to be so busy paying back his Casino-Interest backers, he won't have a second to even think about homebrew or brewery modernization.

That is all.
Click to expand...

I dont care if he HELPS homebrewing or any alcohol legislation in the state., I just dont want anyone actually trying to hamper the efforts, and he wont do that.
and yes, you are correct that the established business interests control policy, thats an absolute fact, but the rest is a more a matter of religous morals trying to dictate policy at a higher level, rather than actually making decisions based on whats fiscally and realistically proper for the citizens of the state.
you know, this remended me of something I just saw yesterday on tv., Alabama ranked 43rd on the Quality of Life scale, again, (consistently on the bottom rungs of the ladder) and all the southern states fair poorer than most. I know I have heard Senators and congressmen speak about our wonderful laid back heritage and not wanting to ruin it with MORE access to alcohol. this is where my rants about religion stem.
one of the reasons we as a state continue to rank so poorley against others are these antiquated laws and religous dogma.
for us as a state to prosper, this old antiquated belief the devil is chasing you down every street, has to be put aside. I hear politicians crow about how low our state taxes are, but they fail to mention how our K-12 education funding suffers. locally, last year, we had the chance in two countys, to vote for a 1 cent sales tax increase to build 3 new schools we desperately need, voted it down!:mad:
I know im rambling, sorry, but this whole thing pisses me off.
:off:
 
Anyone living in Alabama who believes religion does not play a role BIG time is fooling himself or herself...............

Look, I have nothing against any religion. I do not agree with most of them. However, this is the United States of America. You have the right to any religion of your choice. However, for some reason most think they have the right to push that religion on to others and that is the part I cannot stand. I know I'm gonna get some flack for that....put the shoe on the other foot say it was another non Christian religion that was influencing politics and think how upset you would be?

We fight over gambling, alcohol, race, and various other things, that do not help any single person in this state. How about they fix things that matter. Our education is amongst the worst in the country. Teachers are near bottom in pay rates. Jobs are hard to find...School employees laid off due no money in that budget. Jefferson County wanted to tax people for a sewer that they do not even use. Taxes do not fix everything. Therefore, each time the state screws up they should increase taxes or tax something new to over come short falls in the budget. Wrong. Come on every single politician in Alabama should be fired and replace with someone who can get the job done.

Okay I will climb off my soapbox for now.
 
jonbomb said:
I hate to say it and get political. These problems are from the people in congress who are stripping us from our rights. All of the people who are trying to strip us of our right slowly.

The same people who want to totally abolish hand guns all together. The same people who put raise taxes on cigars just because they say "they are unhealthy for you and the environment" so they tax them. The same people who are taxing tanning salons all over the united states...(I don't use tanning salong my GF does)

These republicans you speak of that want home brewing illegal are nothing but fakes. I have the right to do whatever I want with my money. I am not selling it I am making it for my own consumption. Believe me they will find something about homebrewing that is too "dangerous" or "unhealthy" for us. Just like how they somehow banned salt used in cooking in New York city restraunts. These people want control over us... All I say is if you don't like it. Get them voted OUT.
Click to expand...

Umm we live in state that is in support of everything you talk about. You're disillusioned to think the homebrew legal situation would change if your points were carried out or not. You're obviously not observing politics on a level beyond the tea party. Please read a textbook about government and politics kthx. The situation has so many more variables involved than you bring to the table with your argument. The world isn't black and white. Us vs Them. Think of it more like a spider graph with shades of grey throughout.

That being said in AL we don't have much of a chance of getting it legalized soon. All republican candidates here will fall in line with their party and because no democrate stands a snowball's chance in hell of getting elected. That situation will likely stalemate itself for a while. I think you're better off trying to conceal your hobby to outside observers and join a brew club.
 
For what it's worth, the sponsors for the homebrew bill in both the House and the Senate this past year were both Republicans. I know that the general impression is that the Republican party is much more monolithic than the Democratic party, but consider the Republican candidates for President back in 2008. You had the authoritarian religious wing represented in Huckabee, the libertarian end represented by Ron Paul, the warhawk neo-conservatives with Rudy Giuliani, and the fiscal conservatives in Mitt Romney. It's a pretty broad coalition of groups that apply "less government" in very different ways. About the only thing they all agree on is lower taxes, but even then the different groups have different motivations and mean different things by that.

Alabama Republicans are just as mixed as the rest of the country, though the Huckabee types are a bit stronger here. That said, our House sponsor said he has personally talked to Bentley about the homebrewing bill and that Bentley is supportive. Bentley's campaign said the opposite, but it's possible that once the issues were clearly outlined to him, he was more willing to bend on that point but that he hasn't talked to his campaign staff about it (and there's no reason he should have since they probably aren't anticipating homebrewing to be a major campaign issue). Also, since our sponsor is supporting Bentley, if Bentley is elected, he may be less inclined to veto the bill when it's all said and done. We'll see.
 
Thanks for showing how parties do not work Doc. The problem is parties. Hard to get anything done if a party much less both parties have to agree on it. After I read up on Dr. Bentley I was scared, hopefully hthat right wing religious side just over stated his views and he is a bit more in the middle on issues, incase he does win. Normally I go with republicans on issues but wow, some of his views like, teacher lead prayer, scare me.
 
Anyone got any word or story links to the man who was arrested in blount county recently for brewing? I heard he was arrested and they took his stuff.
 
brewagentjay said:
Anyone got any word or story links to the man who was arrested in blount county recently for brewing? I heard he was arrested and they took his stuff.
Click to expand...

he hasnt posted anything today as far as I know, but yesterday his story was that he hadnt been arrested yet and a lawyer was contacted.
I dont know what really happened, but he said that a neighbor said several high end pickup trucks and sherrifs deputy vehicle were hauling off several loads of equipment from his house. he was NOT at home at the time of the raid and hadnt been charged with anything as of sunday night.
thats about all I know, which is the same thing everyone else knows as far as I can tell.
 
He needs some press. I see no mention of raid or anything online....yet seems every single arrest story makes a paper or link somewhere.

Entire thing is crazy. What right does blount county sheriff office have to raid his home? Seems like ABC officers would need to be involved here.
 
thats the problem with this whole story, we dont know anymore than I just told everyone, and the ABC may have been involved, we just dont know yet. and NO, we dont need the press!
we really need to wait and see what he says in the next couple of days to clarify.
 

Similar threads

jrgtr42
West Virgina Home Distillation
Replies
2
Views
366
smcinco
S
T
Quinine Source for Tonic Water?
Replies
1
Views
357
DuncB
D
PashMaddle
Shipping beer overseas?
Replies
5
Views
343
Sammy86
Sammy86
sictransit701
Shipping homebrew
Replies
24
Views
2K
Phish_on2k
Phish_on2k
S
Beer is thinner after switching to 10 gallon batches. ???
Replies
25
Views
1K
WesBrew
WesBrew

Latest posts

Back
Top