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.

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.

Why is moonshine illegal

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. It is called moonshine because it is traditionally illegally distilled during the night to avoid being discovered by law enforcement. Moonshine is noted for having a very high alcohol content and being distilled in a variety of handmade, ramshackle stills usually found in the woods or mountains. Moonshine became very popular during the Prohibition era, in which organized and unorganized criminals were involved. It is still made and consumed today. Moonshine can be made from any grain or fruit but is most commonly made using corn. Since the majority of people who distill their own spirits are farmers or live in rural areas, they tend to use whatever crop they have a surplus of for distilling into moonshine. Corn is often preferred both because of its abundance and because it is a good source of fermentable sugar.

In either case, it's important to understand the legality of moonshine and its ABV. Related Tags Health Alcohol Drugs.

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 to 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. Some moonshine producers will seek to offer reproductions of clear high-proof homemade alcohol from the Prohibition era.

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? Is it just about a loss of taxable revenue, as many suggest, or is the US government trying to protect us from poorly-made alcoholic spirits? Traditionally, it was made with corn, although it can be made with any fermented grains from rye to wheat or sometimes plain old sugar. Image by inkflo from Pixabay. Moonshine is deeply rooted in American history. Often presented as a part of Southern cultural history and heritage, its true origins can actually be traced back to Pennsylvania. In fact, moonshine had been so important to Americans, it nearly caused the first American Civil War.

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.

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Irish Sun. Scottish Sun. I just want you to shine, whether it be by day or by moon. Company Website. Just make sure you follow all of the processes involved and get all the proper documentation before you start the process. So, did the Dukes of Hazzard lie to me? Work Phone. However, farmers distilling moonshine from the comfort of their own homes were obviously not paying that tax. Where moonshine goes straight from the still into a serving vessel typically a mason jar , most whiskeys are barrel-aged for some length of time before being sold, lending them a smoother, more palate-friendly taste. But moonshine can be used to describe anything that pertains to be strong, homemade, and illicit - such as strong types of whiskey or "bathtub" gin.

Known mostly for its clandestine origins as an illegally homemade alcoholic spirit , moonshine is surprisingly diverse!

Since moonshine is often made by untrained hands, it can vary greatly in alcohol content and even come out at an unsafe level. Yes, if you make moonshine without the proper permitting, it is a crime. Work Phone. Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred when methanol has been accidentally produced in moonshine production or has been used to adulterate moonshine. 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. Over a century later, the Prohibition era only further popularized the moonshine business. 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. Keep reading to learn what moonshine is, what the average ABV of moonshine is, what flavors it comes in, and more. It's a risky hobby, but for a bunch of weird reasons you might not expect. But moonshine can be used to describe anything that pertains to be strong, homemade, and illicit - such as strong types of whiskey or "bathtub" gin. It is still made and consumed today.