How legal is underage homebrew?

[Kungpaodog]

Man, I should of thought of this when I was 18... As far as I can tell, here in Colorado it is legal to buy homebrew supplies and ingredients, but it is illegal to possess alcohol if under 21. BUT I think there area some fuzzy laws about being independent and consuming alcohol in your own home if you are under 21. Not that I condone underage drinking, and I hope I'm not giving anyone any bad ideas, but simply out of curiosity: can anyone (maybe some LEOs) tell me how legal it would be for an eighteen year old to brew beer?

Of course, I don't think I would have had the patience for it at that age...

 

[eschatz]

as soon as you drop yeast in there it becomes alcohol and thus illegal for minors.

as far as I know, thats where the law stands in most states.

 

[uglygoat]

it's really only illegal in my book if you are apprehended. i mean if i run a stop light at 0300 on an empty street and don't get pulled over or cause an accident, i haven't broken any law, according to my recollection.

 

[ifishsum]

So with that logic, if you kill someone and don't get caught, it's OK?

 

[jcarson83]

Isn't it legal in some states to drink at 18? I think your question would be state specific.

 

[JMcManaway]

Louisiana was the last state to go from 18 to 21, so now all 50 require one to be 21 in order to purchase and/or drink beer.

You certainly can't stop someone who's underage from buying homebrew supplies - grains, yeast, hops, etc, are all completely innocuous on their own.

 

[uglygoat]

So with that logic, if you kill someone and don't get caught, it's OK?

never was talking about right and wrong, just legality. a subtle difference imo.

or did you mean when i run the red light?

 

[bull8042]

I don't know the answer to the OP's question, but I do know that I have an 11 year old who likes to help me bottle.

 

[ChshreCat]

I think the line he's drawing is that if noone gets hurt, then no foul. He runs a red light at 3am, no problem. He runs a red light at 3am and hits someone... then there's a problem.

 

[Special Hops]

If you brew and no one finds out. who cares?

 

[uglygoat]

only if you get caught. legally speaking.

 

[kennedyma]

BTW, in WI you can drink in a bar at any age as long as a parent is with you.

 

[Slappy White]

I'm in those shoes...i didn't say that tho

 

[talleymonster]

In Clark County, Nevada it is legal for a minor to consume alcohol if they are in their parents home and in the company of their parents. Too bad I didn't grow up here!

 

[mysteryberto]

I look really young even though I'm over 21. It's funny to get carded at a bar for a pint of beer but not when I go to buy supplies to make 5 gallons!

 

[memphomaniac]

At my LHBS in Gainesville, FL they have a sign on the front door that says they don't sell any alcohol (they are about three-quarters of a mile from the UF campus) and that anyone under 21 is not allowed in. I'm guessing 21 is the law here, but not sure.

 

[lapaglia]

Well it's legal for underage children to drink in Wisconsin, as long as they're with their parents. In the link it was still wrong because the kid was 4 but it is legal so it depends on the state. In Colorado it is not legal to consume alcohol until you are 21 no matter who gives it to you.

 

[ifishsum]

In Oregon it's against the law for a minor to be in possession of alcoholic beverages , including by consumption. There's no exception for home brew, but I understand that a minor can drink at home with their parents as long as they do not go out in public while under the influence.

I take my 19YO son a few home brews from each batch. I wouldn't do it if I thought he'd be stupid about it, but he can control himself and he always brings my bottles back I've even entertained giving him my Mr. Beer fermenter, but I'm busy making apfelwein with it....plus the SWMBO would not be happy if I did that. Better to wait until he's 21.

 

[Bytor1100]

Hell, it's "illegal" to brew at home here in Utah at any age. jeez-la-weez

 

[Kilgore_Trout]

Depends on the state, each state has it's own laws regarding under-age drinking @ home.

Possessing alcohol and drinking it are two different things, and are bound by different laws. Some situations/states require you to be at home or in the presence of a guardian.. others don't.

http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/index.asp?Type=BAS_APIS&SEC={0D5C719E-FCE8-4E15-A367-4145C655505F}&DE={E6F19624-0ADC-437F-917D-5E7CBC9F58B9}

http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/index.asp?Type=BAS_APIS&SEC={DA244DAF-EB78-425C-915B-D26D303F9E13}&DE={468A8313-845A-41C8-A6F1-73D42EDD5F24}

 

[Bytor1100]

I'm just glad I never got caught. After coming home from Iraq, I didn't show much respect for that law. enough said. But I'm in debt to homebrewing, keeps me busy, keeps me happy..that's life

 

[Kilgore_Trout]

I'm just glad I never got caught. After coming home from Iraq, I didn't show much respect for that law. enough said. But I'm in debt to homebrewing, keeps me busy, keeps me happy..that's life

It's sad that Uncle Sam was fine with sending you to war, but beer? That's unacceptable! You're too young!

As usual, the government astounds me.

 

[tuckferrorists]

Louisiana was the last state to go from 18 to 21, so now all 50 require one to be 21 in order to purchase and/or drink beer.

I think they were going to withhold federal road funding if they didn't change. They were seriously considering it..

 

[Bytor1100]

It's sad that Uncle Sam was fine with sending you to war, but beer? That's unacceptable! You're too young!

As usual, the government astounds me.

Thanks for your sentiment. I better not get motivated on the subject at this point. I'm drunk and happy

 

[Edcculus]

I started when I was 19. Not to brew hooch either, just because I was genuinely interested in brewing good beer. It also had to do with the fact that I couldn't go to the liquor stores with good beer selections and drool for 20 minutes before making a decision.

 

[Kilgore_Trout]

I think they were going to withhold federal road funding if they didn't change. They were seriously considering it..

National Minimum Drinking Age Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They did it, that's how they got this pushed throughout the country.

 

[Kungpaodog]

I believe that Wyoming was the 49th state to raise the age to 21, but they really didn't care about federal highway funding for quite some time since they didn't need a lot of money to maintain their two highways!

You know, Wyoming...

...the state with more sheep that people

...the square on the map that should say "no state here"

...Colorado's hat

...the place where they actually use those 40 foot snow fences

...a pain in the rear to drive across

Before I catch any crap, I lived there for my first six years of life, there's great fishing and camping, and it's a beautiful place to visit...as long as you don't get snowed out in early August! (true story)

 

[Bytor1100]

I didn't start homebrewing until I was 22, after I moved BACk to Utah. The only people I hate are closed minded people. Religious preference aside, those are the only people I hate. So if you have no desire to UNDERSTAND or LEARN anything, I hate you, plain and simple. I warned you, i'm drunk. But it's all good. I don't have work tomorrow. So do you want to know what I rally think? hehe

 

[EvilTOJ]

I think you're drunk, that's what I think! I can almost see you as you lurch to one side, poking your finger in the air saying "and you knoww wat I can't stand iether? Intolarance. Ya."

 

[bull8042]

Hell, it's "illegal" to brew at home here in Utah at any age. jeez-la-weez

So I take it you are a good citizen and don't brew at home, but just like participating on the forums to learn just in case you are ever able to.....