Checking a corney on an airplane?

[weirdboy]

All of my beer was still there and nothing was missing, if it was illegal to cross statelines I have a feeling that would have been confiscated on the spot.

I am not a lawyer, but I don't think the crossing state line thing is applicable for personal consumption, maybe if you were crossing state lines with a truck full of beer to sell in your bar or liquor store......though I could be wrong.

Right, but that was commercially brewed beer in retail packaging. Not the same as homebrew.

 

[Montanaandy]

Ok, I just flew back from Chicago with 10 bottles of Two Brothers beer in my checked baggage(two 12 packs minus the 2 bottles I drank in my hotel room). I checked the TSA's site and found this: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/holiday.shtm which covers beer and says is should be checked, not carried on the plane, however it doesn't cover kegs.

However, as far as the transporting liquor across state lines, I didn't have any issues brining my beer from IL to MN. And my suit case full of beer was the first time I have ever had the TSA check my suit case. When I got it back my lock was missing and there was a note from the TSA(preprinted we opened your bag note). All of my beer was still there and nothing was missing, if it was illegal to cross statelines I have a feeling that would have been confiscated on the spot.

I am not a lawyer, but I don't think the crossing state line thing is applicable for personal consumption, maybe if you were crossing state lines with a truck full of beer to sell in your bar or liquor store......though I could be wrong.

Again, it has to do with the licensing and packaging. You were transporting bottles of beer in retail packaging that has had state and federal alcohol taxes paid. I do this all the time with wine and beer, as do countless others - no problem there. However, shipping beer in non-retail packaging (corny) and particularly not having paid taxes on it is another matter altogether. I am an attorney but I am not familiar with the federal laws in this area (I do know the laws governing homebrew/alcohol production in Montana). Obviously foreign beer on tap at the local bar is shipped from overseas all the time. Distributors have to pay taxes on it. Not certain whether it is shipped in bulk and then placed into kegs or how it is transported though. Montanandy

 

[JNish]

Evidently this guy has checked kegs before with no problems. Still haven't heard back from TSA, I suspect I won't until Monday.

Also, I don't think pressure is anything to be worried about with kegs in cargo. I've checked homebrew bottles before (twelve 22's in a large box), had no problem with TSA or the airlines with the bottles, and there was no busted glass. So this indicates that it is fine to ship homebrew across state borders and there is some pressure in cargo hold, or at least enough that the bottles didn't burst. Considering that corneys can easily hold up to 100psi, I highly doubt there will be any explosions.

 

[Montanaandy]

Evidently this guy has checked kegs before with no problems. Still haven't heard back from TSA, I suspect I won't until Monday.

Also, I don't think pressure is anything to be worried about with kegs in cargo. I've checked homebrew bottles before (twelve 22's in a large box), had no problem with TSA or the airlines with the bottles, and there was no busted glass. So this indicates that it is fine to ship homebrew across state borders and there is some pressure in cargo hold, or at least enough that the bottles didn't burst. Considering that corneys can easily hold up to 100psi, I highly doubt there will be any explosions.

Interesting. The post was dated Sept. 2009 so it will be interesting to see if the TSA has changed their stance/position subsequent to the "printer cartridge event" and the subsequent tightening of security at US airports. I also noticed that the keg was not being shipped as a keg per se but was inside of a suitcase (they were shipping 3 gal kegs).

In any event I personally would certainly not take this as carte blanche to ship/carry homebrew across state lines. Homebrew in bottles would not set off an alarm because most people are not familiar with homebrewing and bottling. Transporting a keg is another matter altogether. Further, the TSA is worried about whether you are trying to smuggle something dangerous onto the plane and not whether you have paid the applicable taxes.

The fact of the matter is that you are still engaging in interstate commerce per se. If the ATF gets wind and gets involved you would likely be in some serious S%$# and would be facing fines at the very least. Montanaandy

 

[northernlad]

if thats true then 80%+ of the members on this board are breaking the law regularly. I know i would be if that was the case. I regularly haul 4 cornies out to the desert with me for long camping/wheeling weekends. Give homebrew as gifts, take some to my LHBS for tastings, take a keg to a buddies house for a party, sending brew out to comps, etc.

We already know it is against the law in Oregon to remove homebrew from the home.
Reasearching briefly here: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/government-affairs/statutes/united-states
it also seems it is illegal in Washington, but not in California. It isn't really enforced in Washington and wasn't in Oregon until this summer when some egghead called and asked the liquor board about a competition.
So, in addition to what TSA might have to say, it might also be prudent to make sure there won't be any staties hanging out when you arrive.