Wisconsin problems like Oregon...

[Steelers77]

A small group of people in WI need to step up and work with a sympathetic congressman and the AHA to change the law.

The rest of you should obey the law until it changes. It's one thing to be blindsided but the way the state interprets the law is clear now and flagrantly violating it and getting caught will hurt your cause.

My neighbors son is an assembly man, maybe I can take our issue up with him. I've actually had conversations with him and he is a really nice guy. Let me know what I can do.

 

[MeatyPortion]

It's disturbing to read this about my state. I may have to join in and contact my reps.

 

[motobrewer]

The issue is someone is imagining money where there is none.

 

[olllllo]

This is likely a potential problem in every state that allows homebrewing, excepting OR and CO and other states have added language in recent years.

It's probable that the right to homebrew is a mere one or two line clause that exempts taxation. And that's it.

It likely uses language such as "in the home", "for home purposes".

It undoubtedly says nothing about transportation or use outside of the home.

This leaves these questions wide open to your state's alcohol control board or department of liquor control or an overreaching department of health. These are all appointed positions with little oversight or direction.

Right or wrong, they make decisions that are binding without any recourse until after the fact. By this I mean, they bust up your homebrew competition and you're screwed. You may ultimately prevail at some hearing, but your actual comp is over.

This is why it is important to join a club; have that club communicate with the professional brewers guild and the AHA and the DLLC/ACB. In many cases you can get these things cleared up and get some legal precedent and policies in place.

The other longer term option is to get some meaningful and favorable laws passed, but bear in mind that you risk opening up the entire law guaranteeing homebrewing. It's not entirely impossible (especially in my wacky state) that some grandstanding state legislator decides to ****can the whole exemption once they find out you can brew 200 gallons of the debbil juice. Plan on a ridiculous amount of education and PR.

 

[Steelers77]

The other longer term option is to get some meaningful and favorable laws assed, but bear in mind that you risk opening up the entire law guaranteeing homebrewing. It's not entirely impossible (especially in my wacky state) that some grandstanding state legislator decides to ****can the whole exemption once they find out you can brew 200 gallons of the debbil juice. Plan on a ridiculous amount of education and PR.

Good point. It's also why we have to take the fight to them and help craft the laws instead of letting a bunch of politicians with no knowledge of home brewing do it.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

Sounds like untill such time as the law is updated the club meetings should rotate to members' residences.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

It's disturbing to read this about my state. I may have to join in and contact my reps.

Holy Crap! Meaty and I are on the same side of a political issue! Ok, Lord, you can take me home now, I have officially seen it all.....

J/K, Meaty, welcome aboard!