Why is moonshine illegal

The practice can be traced back to the Prohibition era of the s and the drinks are often still mimicked and served in the southern states. Moonshine is a generic slang term that refers why is moonshine illegal potently strong and illegally made alcoholic spirits. The word was first associated with bootleggers who were attempting to make and sell alcohol during the Prohibition era. In modern times, Moonshine is still used to describe illegal homemade alcohol, some certified distillers will often sell beverages that are described as moonshine for novelty value or to describe its stronger-than-usual taste, why is moonshine illegal.

I recently attended a wedding where the groomsmen were passing around a bottle of what smelled like the strongest liquor known to man. One groomsman pocketed the bottle and smiled. My immediate thought was that moonshine is illegal. Yet everyone at the table confirmed they had already sipped moonshine at least once in their life. So, did the Dukes of Hazzard lie to me? Has moonshine really been completely legal this whole time?

Why is moonshine illegal

Moonshine has been having something of a renaissance. The production of moonshine — or really any spirit — without a license is prohibited by the U. In fact, American bootleggers can face jail time for operating seemingly innocent home distilleries. The federal law states that breaking it can have offenders facing multiple federal felonies, including tax evasion, which can result in up to 10 years in prison on top of seizure and forfeiture of the land used for the illegal activity. The law seems unreasonable on the surface, but when you dig into its history, it becomes a little more clear. It all began right after the American Revolution, Spoelman explains, during which time the government began to place excise taxes on alcohol in order to pay off its debt from the war. This tension eventually led to the Whiskey Rebellion, in which George Washington lead a crackdown on farmers making money by distilling their grain into moonshine. Fast forward to the Civil War era, and making moonshine without paying taxes was officially deemed illegal. This act officially imposed a tax on alcohol, among other items, which made distilling without a permit even harder to get away with. One way the government has been able to market this law is by alluding to the idea that moonshine-making at home is unsafe, due to its potential to be tainted by toxic heavy metal particles. These arguably avoidable risks include tainting the spirit with methanol, which is known to cause blindness. Other risks that can come with distilling your own moonshine include amateur-related hazards like stills exploding. In general, alcohol has always been heavily scrutinized by the government. At this point, you may be wondering whether making your own moonshine is worth the trouble at all. While it is illegal, each state does crack down on moonshiners a little differently.

While it is illegal, each state does crack down on moonshiners a little differently.

Do you have a passion for distilling and want to sell your drinks in different types of marketplaces? Or maybe you just want to learn the essentials of home distilling? In either case, it's important to understand the legality of moonshine and its ABV. This number indicates the alcohol strength of a drink and is used in part for making popular cocktails and comparing different types of alcohol. Keep reading to learn what moonshine is, what the average ABV of moonshine is, what flavors it comes in, and more. Moonshine is a high-proof liquor produced illegally without government authorization.

Known mostly for its clandestine origins as an illegally homemade alcoholic spirit , moonshine is surprisingly diverse! In this guide, you will learn everything that you need to know about moonshine from its flavours and how to drink it:. Ole Smokey Moonshine. Sugarlands Moonshine. Moonshine is mostly known as a slang term that refers to strong and illegally-made alcoholic spirits.

Why is moonshine illegal

Moonshine is high-proof liquor , generally whiskey , traditionally made or distributed illegally. Different languages and countries have their own terms for moonshine see Moonshine by country. The ethanol may be concentrated in fermented beverages by means of freezing. For example, the name applejack derives from the traditional method of producing the drink, jacking , the process of freezing fermented cider and then removing the ice, increasing the alcohol content. In some countries, moonshine stills are illegal to sell, import, and own without permission. However, enthusiasts explain on internet forums how to obtain equipment and assemble it into a still. The preferred heat source for plastic stills or spiral stills is sous vide sticks; these control temperature, time, and circulation, and are therefore preferred over immersion heaters.

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Facebook Twitter Email. In modern times, Moonshine is still used to describe illegal homemade alcohol, some certified distillers will often sell beverages that are described as moonshine for novelty value or to describe its stronger-than-usual taste. Off English. The alcohol content affects the freezing point of alcohol , how it affects you when you drink it, and more. Since moonshine is often made by untrained hands, it can vary greatly in alcohol content and even come out at an unsafe level. Advanced Mixology explains that moonshine is made by a similar process to vodka. There have been modern-day attempts on the state level to legalize the home distillation of alcohol, for example, the New Hampshire state legislature has tried repeatedly to pass laws allowing unlicensed home distillation of small batches. Today, federal rules say a household with two adults can brew up to gallons of wine and the same amount of beer each year. However, moonshine purists do not consider these drinks to be "real" moonshine as the alcohol content is lower and they aren't necessarily distilled in the exact same manner. So, did the Dukes of Hazzard lie to me? Or maybe you just want to learn the essentials of home distilling? Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred when methanol has been accidentally produced in moonshine production or has been used to adulterate moonshine. However, there are a few distillers that have taken to creating legal "moonshine" with government permission. Take a look at our answers below:. But a growing number of oenophiles and beer connoisseurs wanted to make their own, and they helped pressure Congress to decriminalize home-brews across the country.

In this day and age, when many brew their own wine, beers, ciders, or meads, why is producing your own moonshine — and not just for sale, but for personal consumption, as well — still illegal? In fact, the federal government fears home-distilling so much that being caught in possession of unregistered stills or other moonshine production carries heavy penalties including hefty fines or possible imprisonment. Which begs the question: is any illegal liquor worth this hassle?

According to federal law , you are allowed to brew beer and even make your own wine at home for your personal consumption. This tension eventually led to the Whiskey Rebellion, in which George Washington lead a crackdown on farmers making money by distilling their grain into moonshine. The law seems unreasonable on the surface, but when you dig into its history, it becomes a little more clear. I recently attended a wedding where the groomsmen were passing around a bottle of what smelled like the strongest liquor known to man. In fact, even buying or owning any type of still the vessel used to distill spirits is illegal in many countries. However, there are a few distillers that have taken to creating legal "moonshine" with government permission. In general, alcohol has always been heavily scrutinized by the government. This act officially imposed a tax on alcohol, among other items, which made distilling without a permit even harder to get away with. At this point, you may be wondering whether making your own moonshine is worth the trouble at all. Yet everyone at the table confirmed they had already sipped moonshine at least once in their life. Yes, if you make moonshine without the proper permitting, it is a crime. These arguably avoidable risks include tainting the spirit with methanol, which is known to cause blindness. You don't want to start making online liquor sales only to have your business closed by the government. Moonshine is a classic American beverage steeped in mystery.