If so are there limitations
2006-09-30 05:02:15 · 9 answers · asked by The professor 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Sure, for personal use, of course. You have to check local laws for quantity.
2006-09-30 05:04:12 · answer #1 · answered by Tristansdad 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Depends on where you are. New Zealand and a couple European countries allow personal distillation to a certain quantity. USA, Australia, UK do not...among the majority of all other countries I haven't named.
Home brewing of wine and beer are perfectly legal, and in the US, you can brew up to 100 gallons of each per adult over 21 in your household.
Once you take the next step and start purifying/concentrating the alcohol content by distillation or freezing, it's strictly forbidden without a permit in the US. Yes, you can get a permit from the TTB (not ATF) but it takes tons of paperwork, money, and you must satisfy an big list of location requirements.
Here's the big list of requirements:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=fd8b0ad16b93584273aefb7460a98eb4&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:1.0.1.1.1&idno=27
That said, if you're not in the US or other countries that prohibit personal distillation of spirits (whiskey, rum, vodka, etc.) you can get a wealth of information for the do-it-yourselfer here:
http://homedistiller.org
2006-09-30 12:38:33 · answer #2 · answered by Trid 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Arkansas, people have been doing this for years. Some of my ancestors even spent time in confinement for this. This is called a REVENUERS TIME OUT. Much like in preschool, but with guns.
My advice would be to pass on the "lightnin", get a different hobby, and just buy a bottle of Southern Comfort!
2006-09-30 13:25:30 · answer #3 · answered by arkyankeedonna 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not in the US. All stills must be registered and you must receive a license for your still to produce drinkable spirits and pay taxes on what you produce. Even stills designed for denatured spirits (such as Ethanol fuel) must be registered and you must prove it doesn't produce a drinkable result.
"You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties.] "
-TTB
USC 5601: Failure to follow the law "shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both, for each such offense."
2006-09-30 12:35:58 · answer #4 · answered by Ari 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Distilling ethanol for personal consumption is illegal in the United States, primarily because it would be harder for the looters to tax. All the regulations they set up for you to obtain a permit are prohibitive for a hobbyist.
Now, would you get caught if you went ahead and did it anyway? I'm guessing if you don't flaunt it ...
2006-09-30 12:32:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, home distillation of alcohol is illegal, for personal use or not.
2006-09-30 12:15:07 · answer #6 · answered by τεκνον θεου 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can. It's home distillation. To sell it you would need a permit, but otherwise, you don't need any permission, just tiem and patience.
2006-09-30 12:05:42 · answer #7 · answered by weebat 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you live in the US, then no, it is 100% illegal.
2006-09-30 15:37:38 · answer #8 · answered by albinopolarbear 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can do whatever you want to do ..shh I wont tell
2006-09-30 12:27:45 · answer #9 · answered by Missbribri 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋