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Is hombrewing illegal in your state?

Discussion in 'General Homebrew Discussion' started by neovox, Feb 13, 2011.

 

  1. #1
    neovox

    Well-Known Member  

    Posted Feb 13, 2011
    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.
     
  2. #2
    Arneba28

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 13, 2011
    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
     
  3. #3
    catdaddy66

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 13, 2011
    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)
     
  4. #4
    rjwhite41

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 13, 2011
    Just like the asinine and/or archaic arguments against a relative of our good friend the hop.
     
    itsme6582 and mrk305 like this.
  5. #5
    itsme6582

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 13, 2011
    Can you prost a post?
     
  6. #6
    rico567

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 13, 2011
    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.
     
  7. #7
    Acoma

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    Laws are just guidelines.
     
  8. #8
    robtotten

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    Like anyone would need a reason to leave Mississippi or Alabama.
     
  9. #9
    SKMO

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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.
     
  10. #10
    Jbloader

    Active Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    Wow! :rolleyes:

    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?:D
     
  11. #11
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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...
     
  12. #12
    MeatyPortion

    Internet Bartender  

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    If it was ever made illegal in Wisconsin there would be riots. I'm talking Watts-size.
     
  13. #13
    SickTransitMundus

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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
     
  14. #14
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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...
     
  15. #15
    gratus fermentatio

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    It's legal here in Montana. Regards, GF. :mug:
     
  16. #16
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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...
     
  17. #17
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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...

    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...
     
  18. #18
    IrregularPulse

    Hobby Collector  

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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.
     
  19. #19
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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...
     
  20. #20
    IrregularPulse

    Hobby Collector  

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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!
     
  21. #21
    SickTransitMundus

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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.
     
  22. #22
    olsond

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    Tell that to people with really good lawyers! OJ anyone?
     
  23. #23
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    Where is OJ living now?
     
  24. #24
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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...
     
  25. #25
    SickTransitMundus

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    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".
     
  26. #26
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 14, 2011
    Exactly.. His attitude of "rules are guidelines" has ultimately proven to have 'consequences'...
     
  27. #27
    Acoma

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 15, 2011
    Relax bud I was just joking with the guideline comment. You must be the most ethical Raider fan alive. ;)
     
  28. #28
    r8rphan

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Feb 15, 2011
    I don't live in Oakland... :D
     
  29. #29
    CalmSteve

    New Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2013
    Mississippi legalized homebrewing!
    Yay!

    One more state to go
     
  30. #30
    Hackwood

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2013


    Well?! That escalated quickly??!! haha
     
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