A U.S. appeals court on Friday declared unconstitutional a nearly 158-year-old federal ban on home distilling, calling it an unnecessary and improper means for Congress to exercise its power to tax.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled in favor of the nonprofit Hobby Distillers Association and four of its 1,300 members.
They argued that people should be free to distill spirits at home, whether as a hobby or for personal consumption including, in one instance, to create an apple-pie-vodka recipe.
The ban was part of a law passed during Reconstruction in July 1868, in part to thwart liquor tax evasion, and subjected violators to up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Because this is a thread about a reversal on a ban on distilling. My original comment mentioned all of those hobbies outside of any context of regulation/licensing due to the high risks inherent in their activities without any restrictions in place.
Responder tried to argue that they all have restrictions. I said that it was false and then reiterated my main point, which is being glad (as a member of the homebrew community) that home distilling is now allowed, banning it was dumb, and everyone screaming in this thread about keeping it banned because of “dAnGeR” is unreasonable