Home Brewing is illegal in Alabama??

[xpoc454]

A great example in my state. We can't buy liquor or wine on sundays. Bars can serve them off sale though. A couple years back, New Years fell on a sunday, so they changed the law for that year only. Talk about grade A nonsense....

Ewww that sounds like Indiana. We did that, is that where you are located?

 

[GIusedtoBe]

I live in TN but am from AL. Last year there was a bill in the legislature of AL called "Free the Hops" and I think it went down in flames to the bible thumpers and the liquor distributors. (How they were threatened I'll never know) I think the bill was mainly about the ABV limitations but the opponents acted like underaged kids and unresponsible people would use "craft" beers to get trashed and create mayhem.

This of course makes sense that cash strapped individuals would pay $8 for a bottle of 8% belgian ale instead of $8 for a bottle of everclear to get trashed!

BTW IMO only about 20% of the beer drinkers in AL have a clue about anything other than BMC and I might be liberal in my guess.

Regards,
Al

 

[giligson]

Its very interesting to read about all the odd liquor laws in the various states. Canada is fairly uniform: Liquor of any kind can only be sold at a government liquor store or a designated cold beer and wine store or specialty wine merchant. The only exception is the province of Quebec where beer and wine can be sold in a grocery store. The drinking age is 19 except in Alberta and Quebec where it is 18. U-brew (where consumers can brew in a storefront type setup - basically all you have to do is pitch the yeast) is fairly popular but unfortunately All grain brewing is not popular enough; especially considering our tax on liquor is very high compared to the US.

Oh to live in New Zealand .... where it is actually legal to distill for one's own consumption.

 

[Christian]

Other silly Ok but not so OK laws. Only 3.2%ABW allowed in grocer or c-stores shelves and MUST be stored cold however, High point beer can olny be sold at the liquor stores and is prohibited from cold storage. Bars can sell cold high point but must be consumed on premise.

Liquor store close at 9:00pm and on Sunday but bars can sell til 2:00am every day of the week. C-Stores cannot sell beer or coolers bewteen the hours of 2:00am and 8:00am however, Liquor stores can not open before 10:00am, IIRC. You have to be at least 21 to enter a liquor store but a 2 year old can walk the beer aisles at WalMart.

A brewer can manufacture high point beer in this state but can not sell on premise or direct. High point MUSt be sold through distribution or bought back from the distributor for on premise sales. Low point however, can be sold on premise.

We have the same 3.2 ABW (4.0 ABV) law here in Utah, anything higher has to be sold in the liquor stores that are only open till 10pm, closed on Sundays and there are only so many stores allowed per a certain population. No cold storage is allowed in liquor stores either. Plus the markup for liquor and beer is extremely high and the selection is terrible. Most serious drinkers here make frequent trips out of state, to stock up. My favorite micro-brewery (Stone Brewing) wont sell to the state. Oh and beer kegs are illegal for personal use, only bars can have them.

A brewery as of October 1st can finally sell there own high point beers from there own storefront but wine coolers had to be moved from the grocery stores to liquor stores and the state required the manufacturers to re-label. So they all have pretty much said screw this state and stopped selling here. As of October also a mixed drink can not have more then 1 1/2 oz of liquor and you can NOT order a sidecar of another shot.

The laws are getting worse and worse here, to the point that retailers who have conventions here are planning on going elsewhere (which will hurt the local economy really bad). I owned a bar here for awhile and the laws here are ridiculous and getting a liquor license was hell.

Non of the members of the ABC board here drink and they all belong to a religion that forbids the consumption of alcohol.........so i don't see the laws getting any better, anytime soon.

Oh and you can't go in a bar or club unless you buy a membership as all bars and clubs are required to be called private clubs.

 

[Fadeux]

Ewww that sounds like Indiana. We did that, is that where you are located?

Nope, South Dakota. Oddly enough, I found out today that they just lifted that ban, and are currently rewriting it. So in the next couple weeks its gone! Hooray! Logic and Reason triumph once again!

 

[Nightbiker]

wow, I had no idea it was so bad out there! Makes me glad to be a homebrewer -I can tap my personal kegs or bottles anytime I please, day or night, any day of the week, and since I enjoy my own company, I don't have to worry about being asked to leave or cut myself off. I'm always welcome to have another beer.
Ain't being a homebrewer great?
Really am glad I found this forum -wonderful to know there are so many other like-minded souls around.

The wife and I were out shopping, and she was going on about something (being an average guy, I wasn't really paying too much attention anyway) and she finally stopped, and addressed me directly "you're looking at things and wondering how to use them in your brewing, aren't you?" "Yes, actually, I am. Always."

 

[Corey_James]

Oh and beer kegs are illegal for personal use, only bars can have them.

Then just buy yourself some "SODA" kegs and accidentally put beer in them.

 

[Saccharomyces]

All a bunch of nonsense to me. As long as you aren't selling it, why should they care?

I'd like to see home distillation made legal in the US, as well. If I can make my own craft beer and wine, why not good whiskey too?

 

[Fadeux]

If you want to live in a country that you call free, you have the right to put whatever you want into your own body, PERIOD.... I just wish some of these "Freedeom!" bumper sticker people would realize that.

 

[lordbeermestrength]

If you want to live in a country that you call free, you have the right to put whatever you want into your own body, PERIOD.... I just wish some of these "Freedeom!" bumper sticker people would realize that.

What about meth? I should be able to manufacture that at home and use it for personal consumtion.

I mean really, I agree about the whole homebrewing thing, but lets be intellectually honest. You can't really use that sort of argument to win this battle.

 

[Nightbiker]

+1 on distillation! I'd LOVE to make some of the higher-end spirits.

 

[Pogo]

Posted by lordbeermestrength...What about meth?

What about South Korea?

The battle has ALREADY been won!

Unless something has changed in the last twenty years, ANYTHING you want is available, reasonably, over the counter.

Morphine, opiates, etc.

It seems that they treat adults, as adults.

Pogo

 

[Nightbiker]

thanks, but I think I'd rather live here than there. Having spent as much time as I have in emergency services, and then in the hospital environment, from what I've seen, a great many adults don't act much like adults -certainly don't seem to exhibit the presence of mind and restraint that would warrant treating them as 'adults' (anything goes).

 

[PoorBoy]

True its not that hard if you want to shoot for it, but I don't brew just for the sake of brewing (the ingredients bill DOES add up, after all) -besides, SWMBO would be a little touchy if I started taking up ALL of the available living space just to store bottles... And keg-wise, I've only got about 30 gallons worth of space (though it WOULD be a good excuse to get more kegs.... )
In any case, I sincerely doubt Floridas' Law enforcement types are going to be monitoring my production (grin) -I think the main idea is just to keep me from selling the stuff without getting the proper licenses etc.

i'm lucky that my girl is as enthusiastic about this as i am. and i'm using space as my excuse to starting my kegging (she agrees, this is wise). i also don't think the FL LEO's really care about how much beer i'm brewing, or drinking, or even giving away.

 

[flyangler18]

I'm sure that some of you saw my earlier comment about the AHA when this thread just started. If you are concerned about your states laws concerning homebrewing, I highly encourage you to join an organization that exists to protect your rights as a homebrewer and advocate for changes in local legislation.

Welcome to the Brewers Association

 

[Fadeux]

What about meth? I should be able to manufacture that at home and use it for personal consumtion.

I mean really, I agree about the whole homebrewing thing, but lets be intellectually honest. You can't really use that sort of argument to win this battle.

I said "PUT anything into your own body." Not MAKE anything.
I don't think you should be allowed to make meth in your own home, but at the same time, Locking people who do in a cage for 20-30 years isn't going to do them, or the taxpayers any good. Home distilling could be as dangerous as meth manufacture. A lot of people got really messed up from "bathtub cocktails" back during prohibition. So I guess my question is, where do you draw the line?

 

[lordbeermestrength]

Where to draw the line? I don't know. All I am saying is that there IS a line, somewhere. You should not be allowed to put ANYTHING into your body, that I disagree with.

 

[Nightbiker]

Likewise, lordbeermestrength. Too many adults just don't show the maturity or responsibility required to have an 'anything goes' policy regarding drug use.

 

[yeoldebrewer]

I have no idea what the law here in Texas says about homebrewing. I'm guessing the large German settlement in Texas was adequate to quash any anti-beer nonsense.

Danke sehr!

 

[Christian]

Too many adults just don't show the maturity or responsibility required to have an 'anything goes' policy regarding drug use.

That's partially because our govt and it's society don't treat them as adults. There are more responsible adult drug users out there then you could possibly imagine. Wasting money and resources on trying to rehabilitate them is pointless. What a person does to their own body is of no business of the govt or anyone else. Drugs were perfectly legal in this country for allot longer then they have have been illegal and that is how it should still be. I personally do not touch them and that is because it is MY choice and NOT the govt's.

Treat adults like adults and they are more likely to act like one. Treat them like children and they are more likely to act like one.

 

[Christian]

Too many adults just don't show the maturity or responsibility required to have an 'anything goes' policy regarding drug use.

That's partially because our govt and it's society don't treat them as adults. There are more responsible adult drug users out there then you could possibly imagine. Wasting money and resources on trying to rehabilitate them is pointless. What a person does to their own body is of no business of the govt or anyone else. Drugs were perfectly legal in this country for allot longer then they have have been illegal and that is how it should still be. I personally do not touch them and that is because it is MY choice and NOT the govt's.

Treat adults like adults and they are more likely to act like one. Treat them like children and they are more likely to act like one.

 

[craigd]

Treat adults like adults and they are more likely to act like one. Treat them like children and they are more likely to act like one.

I think that ship sailed years ago. Seems we want a government to make sure nobody has to suffer the indignities of self-responsibility anymore. Long live the nanny state!

 

[Homercidal]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XrtgOzuXnY]YouTube - scatterbrain - Goodbye Freedom[/ame]

Back in the day, Scatterbrain had a whole song about it. Jam on!!

 

[Slipgate]

This is pretty good. My sister runs a local Internet talk show in Pennsacola, FL where she lives, this episode is about liquor sales on Sunday. Watch the part where the clip of the local state elected official makes no bones about there being no liquor sales on Sunday due to them honoring the Church. There is no attempt to even hide the fact that they are laughing at seperation of church and state.

My sister is the one on the right.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SantaRosaWeek

 

[Fadeux]

Where to draw the line? I don't know. All I am saying is that there IS a line, somewhere. You should not be allowed to put ANYTHING into your body, that I disagree with.

If you want to freebase dog poo, or mainline cheeze-whiz, then you go right ahead. Yeah, it'll probably screw you up pretty good. If you commit a crime while high on cheeze-whiz, then lets lock you up for that crime. If you take the model of most of western Europe, and treat drugs as a social issue, and not a criminal one, you'll notice that terrible, life destroying drugs like meth don't even exist.

 

[ohill1981]

Yes i live in alabama and it is behind on the times. Most people believe it is legal here... possibly because common sense dictates that it should be, but sometimes you just gotta say F It and do whats right

Primary's: Amber Ale, American Wheat

 

[yeoldebrewer]

It's not just Alabama. There's always some segment of "right thinking folks" everywhere who know what beliefs and behaviors are best for everyone else. Sometimes their concerns are legit. More often they have a neurotic personal need to control others.

The track record of prohibition of alcohol and other substances is downright abysmal. At some point, adults must have the right to make their own choices and sometimes their own mistakes. Life is just that way.

My two pennies worth.

BTW, those trans-fats they've been feeding us for 50 years are now deemed dangerous. I have 5 coronary stents as supporting evidence. Anyone who says I should worry about drinking a few beers had better swear off the french fries first.

 

[Slipgate]

Beer is truly the nector of the Gods. It's a well known fact that there were actually 11 commandments, the 11th was, "Thou shalt drinketh beer and beholdeth in all its glory, and neverth, and I mean neverth, prohibit the sharething or producething of this liquideth goodnesseth, wooeth, hooeth"

Apparently the 11th got lost in translation somewhere along the line.

Look it up!

 

[yeoldebrewer]

As the Reverend Revvy would say, 'Preach it brotha!'"

 

[Nightbiker]

Aye, yeoldebrewer. I'm a heart patient as well (though my heart was damaged by a virus (no doubt from work -I'm an RN in a large hospital)) resulting in cardiomyopathy with a lowsy (reads as 'low') function (ejection fraction).
My primary care doc has said (more than once) that having a glass (mug) of beer a day is heart-healthy and beneficial (doesn't hurt that he benefits as well, as he gets a hefty portion of the beer I brew).
Beer. Is there ANYTHING it can't do?
-its rather unfortunate that I'm also aflicted with gout -and the beer will (sadly) cause exacerbation or flare-ups, but it just means I love it all the more since I'm willing to live with that, and continue to brew I do!!

Good beer (homebrew is best, as Papazian says) good friends, good food. What ELSE do you really need?

 

[Nightbiker]

just watched that video. I want my two minutes back. I can't sing, but can sing better than THAT. Those guys actually got paid for that? Sad. Pitiful.
I guess I never did understand the whole 'anger' thing -I wasn't an 'angry teen' -oh, there were things I didn't agree with, but I never had the need for rebellion for the sake of rebelling that some people seem to have.

 

[Fadeux]

Beer is truly the nector of the Gods. It's a well known fact that there were actually 11 commandments, the 11th was, "Thou shalt drinketh beer and beholdeth in all its glory, and neverth, and I mean neverth, prohibit the sharething or producething of this liquideth goodnesseth, wooeth, hooeth"

Apparently the 11th got lost in translation somewhere along the line.

Look it up!

According to secular history, and science, beer was around about 5000 years before the dog was domesticated. Truly "man's best friend." And yes, they feed us ****, and then people actually realize it, and they ban it. Imagine a miracle painkiller with no nausea, no anal seepage, no dimentia. Imagine no long term neurological effects, no sleepwalking, no thoughts of suicide. Guess what, it's called marijuana. Were it legal, a lot of opium based drugs would be out of business. (vicodin, Oxycodine, etc etc.) But there is no money in morality these days. Sorry America. "Land of the Free"

 

[Nightbiker]

Uhm, you may know beer -and lord knows I love each and everyone of all of us homebrewers for that common bond. But medicine is definately NOT your forte -either that, or you're severely clouding your judgement if you really believe what you just said regarding marijuana.
While personally I have no problem whatsoever with legalizing it, your diatribe regarding opiates is garbage. It certainly would not put Vicodin, Oxycodine (etc etc) out of business -they would not be used for the same purposes, and one would not supplant the other -thats like saying hombrewing beer will put Jack Daniels whiskey out of business, or that cigar sales hurt cigarette sales. Entirely different animals, entirely different market, and other than the fact that alcohol is the common element in the alcohol-based drinks, in this regard they do not cancel each other out.
I'm a case in point. I love beer (who on here doesn't?) but do not drink whiskey, do not LIKE whiskey in ANY of its variations -and if I were no longer allowed or able to have beer, I wouldn't switch to whiskey -I'd either brew illegally or just not at all.

 

[Fadeux]

Uhm, you may know beer -and lord knows I love each and everyone of all of us homebrewers for that common bond. But medicine is definately NOT your forte -either that, or you're severely clouding your judgement if you really believe what you just said regarding marijuana.
While personally I have no problem whatsoever with legalizing it, your diatribe regarding opiates is garbage. It certainly would not put Vicodin, Oxycodine (etc etc) out of business -they would not be used for the same purposes, and one would not supplant the other -thats like saying hombrewing beer will put Jack Daniels whiskey out of business, or that cigar sales hurt cigarette sales. Entirely different animals, entirely different market, and other than the fact that alcohol is the common element in the alcohol-based drinks, in this regard they do not cancel each other out.
I'm a case in point. I love beer (who on here doesn't?) but do not drink whiskey, do not LIKE whiskey in ANY of its variations -and if I were no longer allowed or able to have beer, I wouldn't switch to whiskey -I'd either brew illegally or just not at all.

Yeah, It was a bit of an emotional rationalization, but opiates come from opium. Isn't it strange that one is very illegal and others are prescribed by doctors? Yet it's all the same drug.

You are right, but you have to admit, pharmaceuticals are a business now.How many different boner pills do we have? 4? 5? What do we do with a weed-smoking cancer patient? Throw em in jail. Healthcare isn't about Health, or Care anymore, its just about the dollar. I guess that was my exaggerated point.

 

[Nightbiker]

Healthcare is about the dollar -no argument there -its business. BIG business. I've been in the healthcare profession in one aspect or the other for over 20 years -and I freely admit, I don't work for free -in fact, I'll jump ship and go to whichever place will give me the most benefits or dollars (not mutually exclusive) for my work hour that I can find. Sometimes (as current) its not the material dollar, but the benefits (my hospital is fairly competitive where the dollar salary is concerned, but not the best paying -their benefits put them over the top in my book, and thats one reason I've been where I have been for the last 5 or 6 years).
Drug companies would see pot as just another marketable product, if they were freely available to market it, and if they believed it could turn the dollar (research does not happen without $$ -investors do not spend loads of bread if they don't think it will turn a profit (that would be nuts in the business sense). But in any case, most attempts at new medications are complete failures (cannot get past FDA trials) and cost fortunes. The 'peter pills' like Viagra were not originally supposed to be what they became (viagra itself was actually developed for pulmonary hypertension -but turned out to have a much more marketable side-effect -a side effect that came out in trials.) It is important to note that viagra is STILL used for pulmonary hypertension, but the moneymaker is for erectile disfunction -far more people have that and will spend money to help that, than have pulmonary hypertension.
Opium is by definition an opiate, but you could not equate the illegally produced substance derived from the poppy with most of the opiate-based drugs on the market.
My only fear with legalizing more drugs that are otherwise illegal, is where does the line get drawn? And any casual glance at a major emergency room for just a night, would show that people tend to have pretty poor judgement -and thats just with the legally obtainable product of alcohol (including our favorite libation, beer). I mean, it wasn't THAT many years ago that amphetamines were legally prescribed (and regularly so) as weight-loss drugs, and 'pep' pills. Of course, abusing them can have some pretty wicked side effects (as is true with pretty much any substance). Cocaine, further back, was also a fairly frequently prescribed drug for similar reasons -and was even used in a popular drink.
Personally, as I've said, I have no issue whatsoever with pot. But there are many who have the same feeling about many other substances that we may both claim is 'unreasonable'.
To be sure, I'm not your opponent -but neither am I a 'do whatever you want' kind of guy, either.