Why is moonshine illegal

Moonshine has been having something of a renaissance.

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.

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.

Whether you're distilling your own or buying moonshine, there's a wide variety of options at your disposal. Take a look at our answers below:.

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? Also, what the hell is moonshine?

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

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.

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However, the main difference between moonshine and standard whiskey is the aging process. 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. 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. Moonshine is a generic slang term that refers to potently strong and illegally made alcoholic spirits. First Name. Irish Sun. Related Tags Health Alcohol Drugs. 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. Across the US and most parts of Europe , distilling is against the law. 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. Yes, there are some commercial moonshines available to buy. Shop Subscribe. While it is illegal, each state does crack down on moonshiners a little differently. Show all 40 comments.

Moonshine has been having something of a renaissance.

Take a look at our answers below:. These arguably avoidable risks include tainting the spirit with methanol, which is known to cause blindness. Yes, if you make moonshine without the proper permitting, it is a crime. 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. However, the main difference between moonshine and standard whiskey is the aging process. Keep reading to learn what moonshine is, what the average ABV of moonshine is, what flavors it comes in, and more. 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. The kicker is that, by definition, only illegally produced homemade alcohol is actually considered genuine moonshine. Company Website. Within Title 26 of the United States Code, section sets out criminal penalties for various activities.