Is it legal to make moonshine?
The legal requirements of purchasing or owning a still largely depends on where you are located. It is therefore important for you to know the consequences when you buy still online. If you are fortunate enough to reside in New Zealand, you need not worry about getting fined or being put in jail.
Are stills legal in the United States? If you do not have the necessary permit to distill or produce spirits in the United States, you are performing an illegal activity. US law requires that one pay the proper taxes when a distilled spirits plant is in operation. Similarly, there are a slew of requirements that must be met including filing a comprehensive application, the presence of proper equipment when measuring spirits, having a space that is separate from the distillation process, the presence of pipelines and tanks, and having to maintain records and file reports. It is legal for Americans to own a still as long as the still is not used to distill alcohol. Stills can only be used for purifying water and/or extracting essential plant oils. Are stills legal in New Zealand? The answer to this question is “Yes!” Stills and distilling alcohol are completely legal in New Zealand. Distilling is still prohibited in certain European countries. Believe it or not, this does not stop Europeans from distilling despite the risk of being imprisoned, fined or flogged. Make sure you check the rules in your locality. Why is distilling legal in New Zealand? It all began during the 1980s when New Zealand’s Labour Government sold its departments to private business. At that time, public departments were transformed to state-owned companies. Government offices such as the Customs agency were managed as a business and permitted to make a profit. When laws against liquor were changed during the 1990s, the Customs Department of New Zealand questioned the fact that if it was a business, what was the purpose of checking licensed stills when revenues collected were solely from stills that distilled alcohol? This question was answered with the removal of a section from the liquor law that states still ownership as illegal. The change encouraged people to sell stills for the mass market. Nonetheless, the New Zealand Customs act required a license as well as excise tax payments for those who distilled alcohol. Eventually, this changed in October 1996 when the term “spirits” was included in liquor laws, specifically the part about brewing beer. Eventually, distilling alcohol for one’s personal use was made legal and free from excise tax. Reportedly, there were 2,000 stills in New Zealand on September 1995 all of which were able to make alcohol. A few stills were used as ornaments and decorations. Image Source: http://www.alac.org.nz/research-resources/research-blog Is distilling legal in Australia?
According to Australian law, a still that does not exceed 5L need not acquire a license to be owned or used for distilling. The law Down Under considers blending as producing alcohol. It is therefore recommended that spirits not be stored in casks or containers that exceed 5 liters. If you need a large still, you are required to fill up a form and attach necessary documents that indicate your plans for distilling. You also need to pay insurance and a licensing fee. Officials of the Australian government are also required by law to inspect your still. You must also provide records that show specific products you have distilled. Image Source: http://www.stickboydaily.com/really/female-bodyguards-training-on-beach/ |
AboutThe website is made for general information purposes only. Most of the pictures/videos are not owned by the author, they belong to their rightful owners. The author would like to stress that distilling alcohol is illegal in most countries (without the necessary license/permit).
They didn't call him a legendary moonshiner for nothing!
Jesus turned the water into wine. I turned it into liquor. Check out Popcorn's
Moonshine recipe here. |
The Safe Way to Make Moonshine
Distilling moonshine requires safety and a thorough knowledge of the risks involved. Be aware that storing alcohol similarly carries dangers. Also, ethanol and methanol are both flammable. Distilling moonshine in poorly made stills could also lead to poisoning. It is important to adhere to proper rules and heed common sense basics when making moonshine as doing so minimizes hazardous risks.
The following are necessary steps to safely make moonshine with no threat to your life or possession.
Check all your equipment
Make sure all the openings are neither blocked and the valves are properly functioning. Prior to turning on the source of heat, the coolant system must be connected and tested properly.
Guard your still
Never leave a moonshine still unwatched. It must be regularly monitored and even studied. When it is running, check its behavior and ensure that it is in no way disturbed. If you feel sick in some way or if you are under the influence of any medication or alcohol, don’t do any distilling.
Both ethanol and methanol are highly flammable. Specifically, methanol produces flames that are not visible to the naked eye. Do not place any alcohol vapor near any source of heat or naked flame. Similarly, your collection vessel needs to be ethanol resistant and flame resistant.
Prevent leaks from happening
Using a flashlight and a hand-held mirror, check any leaks by looking for fog or condensation in the mirror when these are placed on any part of a running still. If there is fog or condensation present, stop the distillation! Then, power off the heat source and repair any leaks before continuing.
Always keep the distillation area properly ventilated so any leaking vapors will not collect and build up. Preferably, always distill outdoors.
If you see any spills, immediately wipe it off. Apply dry rags or a bucket of dry sand and pour these on the spill. After which, remove the rags and place them outdoors after they have appropriately soaked the residue of the distilled spirits.
Have a fire extinguisher around
Always have a ready fire extinguisher when distilling alcohol. It is best if you have a garden hose and a fire blanket that are easily accessible. Preparing an escape route from the alcohol distillation area is similarly an excellent safety precaution.
Store alcohol properly
Neutral ethanol is a chemical that is highly concentrated, is odorless, flavorless and colorless. Do not store any distilled spirits in places where children could reach them. Neutral ethanol, once ingested, is lethal.
If you are to store alcohol, ensure that you properly label them in proper storage containers. Also, note down its strength in ABV (alcohol by volume) as well as its date of production.
Overall, distilling moonshine is generally safe as long as you are aware of the potential dangers and are actively doing the necessary to lessen the possibility of these occurring. If you value your life and have respect for the distillation process, do refer to these reminders and follow them religiously.
Image Source: http://liquordigest.blogspot.com/2011/06/moonshine-celebrated-way-of-life-in.html
The following are necessary steps to safely make moonshine with no threat to your life or possession.
Check all your equipment
Make sure all the openings are neither blocked and the valves are properly functioning. Prior to turning on the source of heat, the coolant system must be connected and tested properly.
Guard your still
Never leave a moonshine still unwatched. It must be regularly monitored and even studied. When it is running, check its behavior and ensure that it is in no way disturbed. If you feel sick in some way or if you are under the influence of any medication or alcohol, don’t do any distilling.
Both ethanol and methanol are highly flammable. Specifically, methanol produces flames that are not visible to the naked eye. Do not place any alcohol vapor near any source of heat or naked flame. Similarly, your collection vessel needs to be ethanol resistant and flame resistant.
Prevent leaks from happening
Using a flashlight and a hand-held mirror, check any leaks by looking for fog or condensation in the mirror when these are placed on any part of a running still. If there is fog or condensation present, stop the distillation! Then, power off the heat source and repair any leaks before continuing.
Always keep the distillation area properly ventilated so any leaking vapors will not collect and build up. Preferably, always distill outdoors.
If you see any spills, immediately wipe it off. Apply dry rags or a bucket of dry sand and pour these on the spill. After which, remove the rags and place them outdoors after they have appropriately soaked the residue of the distilled spirits.
Have a fire extinguisher around
Always have a ready fire extinguisher when distilling alcohol. It is best if you have a garden hose and a fire blanket that are easily accessible. Preparing an escape route from the alcohol distillation area is similarly an excellent safety precaution.
Store alcohol properly
Neutral ethanol is a chemical that is highly concentrated, is odorless, flavorless and colorless. Do not store any distilled spirits in places where children could reach them. Neutral ethanol, once ingested, is lethal.
If you are to store alcohol, ensure that you properly label them in proper storage containers. Also, note down its strength in ABV (alcohol by volume) as well as its date of production.
Overall, distilling moonshine is generally safe as long as you are aware of the potential dangers and are actively doing the necessary to lessen the possibility of these occurring. If you value your life and have respect for the distillation process, do refer to these reminders and follow them religiously.
Image Source: http://liquordigest.blogspot.com/2011/06/moonshine-celebrated-way-of-life-in.html