What you need to know about Moonshine Laws
There were no moonshine laws back when Native American Indian tribes produced moonshine from native plants. There were also no moonshine laws when Scottish monks from the year 1100 A.D. were mixing a brew they aptly named “breath of life” aka Scottish Whiskey.
Similarly, alcohol stills have long been in existence before the US Constitution was ever created.
When civilization began, fermented alcohol drinks were produced as an alternative to dirty drinking water. Culturally, the public consumption of alcohol was a way for people and societies to communicate news and ideas. It was also a way to break the ice between strangers. Why then was the distillation of alcohol considered unlawful?
Similarly, alcohol stills have long been in existence before the US Constitution was ever created.
When civilization began, fermented alcohol drinks were produced as an alternative to dirty drinking water. Culturally, the public consumption of alcohol was a way for people and societies to communicate news and ideas. It was also a way to break the ice between strangers. Why then was the distillation of alcohol considered unlawful?
Moonshine Laws and its Origin
Technically, moonshining is the illegal manufacture of alcohol. Based on historical records, outlawing alcohol production took some time – specifically centuries. However, despite current laws in different parts of the world where moonshine distilling is outlawed in the absence of a proper license, the process of distilling occurs regularly thus proving the strength of the human spirit to create distilled spirits.
Rules to curb alcohol excess
According to the 1629 Virginia Colonial Assembly, specific rules were created in order to stop people’s excessive consumption of alcohol and its related “evils.”
A few of the rules instituted included the following:
`No ministers were to drink excessively, riot or idly spend their time during the day or night.’
A 1637 law in Massachusetts demanded that no individual is to stay at an unnecessarily long time in a tavern.
In 1633, Plymouth Colony outlawed the sale of spirits “more than 2 pence worth to anyone but strangers just arrived.”
In the same year, a permit was required to be presented in order to sell liquor in the Massachusetts Colony. Plus, any behavior caused by drunkenness were to be slapped with fines.
Unfortunately, none of these regulations minimized the rowdy behavior caused by alcohol.
When the year 1773 came and the instituted rules did not bring change, John Wesley declared distilling to be a sin and so promoted its prohibition.
However, as early as 1730 in Britain, alcoholic beverage was already seen negatively due to its harmful effects to the economy, society and the human body.
Also, British farmers were seen to cultivate more ingredients for alcohol production compared to basic food items. The government thought that the more alcoholic beverage consumed by people, the less they would want to consume food thus producing less demand for edible goods. The result means less tax revenue to be collected. This perspective gave birth to the Gin Tax of 1736.
But truthfully, the Gin Tax was actually a way for the British government to partake in the increased sale of gin.
Meanwhile, despite the United States’ independence from Britain, it followed its colonizer’s way of federally taxing spirits and liquors in order to pay for the expenses lost from fighting a lengthy war. Naturally, farmers and moonshiners became angry and continued to produce whiskey. They also completely ignored the taxes they were supposed to pay. The government insisted to collect taxes by sending revenuers or government men to capture illegal distillers. Federal agents were then attacked, at times violently, by farmers and moonshiners.
Technically, moonshining is the illegal manufacture of alcohol. Based on historical records, outlawing alcohol production took some time – specifically centuries. However, despite current laws in different parts of the world where moonshine distilling is outlawed in the absence of a proper license, the process of distilling occurs regularly thus proving the strength of the human spirit to create distilled spirits.
Rules to curb alcohol excess
According to the 1629 Virginia Colonial Assembly, specific rules were created in order to stop people’s excessive consumption of alcohol and its related “evils.”
A few of the rules instituted included the following:
`No ministers were to drink excessively, riot or idly spend their time during the day or night.’
A 1637 law in Massachusetts demanded that no individual is to stay at an unnecessarily long time in a tavern.
In 1633, Plymouth Colony outlawed the sale of spirits “more than 2 pence worth to anyone but strangers just arrived.”
In the same year, a permit was required to be presented in order to sell liquor in the Massachusetts Colony. Plus, any behavior caused by drunkenness were to be slapped with fines.
Unfortunately, none of these regulations minimized the rowdy behavior caused by alcohol.
When the year 1773 came and the instituted rules did not bring change, John Wesley declared distilling to be a sin and so promoted its prohibition.
However, as early as 1730 in Britain, alcoholic beverage was already seen negatively due to its harmful effects to the economy, society and the human body.
Also, British farmers were seen to cultivate more ingredients for alcohol production compared to basic food items. The government thought that the more alcoholic beverage consumed by people, the less they would want to consume food thus producing less demand for edible goods. The result means less tax revenue to be collected. This perspective gave birth to the Gin Tax of 1736.
But truthfully, the Gin Tax was actually a way for the British government to partake in the increased sale of gin.
Meanwhile, despite the United States’ independence from Britain, it followed its colonizer’s way of federally taxing spirits and liquors in order to pay for the expenses lost from fighting a lengthy war. Naturally, farmers and moonshiners became angry and continued to produce whiskey. They also completely ignored the taxes they were supposed to pay. The government insisted to collect taxes by sending revenuers or government men to capture illegal distillers. Federal agents were then attacked, at times violently, by farmers and moonshiners.
The Whiskey Rebellion
Citizens long disgruntled with the new government decided to rebel against George Washington’s militiamen in what is called the Whiskey Rebellion. Unfortunately, the moonshiners lost and their leaders were caught. Fortunately, it did not stop them from moonshining.
Believe it or not, even the first president of the United States made moonshine. George Washington authorized his farm manager James Anderson to build a distillery and purchase a still. The farm manager was even permitted to convert the coopers shop mill to a distillery.
Moonshine Laws in the 1860s
Moonshiners worked with the Ku Klux Klan to fight the excise tax that are still being collected by US government in order to fund the Civil War.
Prohibition during the 20th century
The golden age for moonshine drinkers and makers was at the onset of the 20th century due to the imposition of Prohibition. When no legal alcohol was available, the demand for moonshine increased drastically. However, the need for it decreased upon the repeal of the Prohibition in 1933.
Current Moonshine Laws
Distilling alcohol is illegal in homes since federal law requires that one have a permit to do so. Distilleries that have acquired a license to produce moonshine have to pay state and federal taxes.
Fortunately, moonshiners are still very much in operation. A chief law enforcement officer of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, Mark Hutchens, claims that moonshine is still being made by “good ol’ fellas who are having fun with it more than anything else..”
Image Source: http://www.ttb.gov/public_info/whisky_rebellion.shtml
Believe it or not, even the first president of the United States made moonshine. George Washington authorized his farm manager James Anderson to build a distillery and purchase a still. The farm manager was even permitted to convert the coopers shop mill to a distillery.
Moonshine Laws in the 1860s
Moonshiners worked with the Ku Klux Klan to fight the excise tax that are still being collected by US government in order to fund the Civil War.
Prohibition during the 20th century
The golden age for moonshine drinkers and makers was at the onset of the 20th century due to the imposition of Prohibition. When no legal alcohol was available, the demand for moonshine increased drastically. However, the need for it decreased upon the repeal of the Prohibition in 1933.
Current Moonshine Laws
Distilling alcohol is illegal in homes since federal law requires that one have a permit to do so. Distilleries that have acquired a license to produce moonshine have to pay state and federal taxes.
Fortunately, moonshiners are still very much in operation. A chief law enforcement officer of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, Mark Hutchens, claims that moonshine is still being made by “good ol’ fellas who are having fun with it more than anything else..”
Image Source: http://www.ttb.gov/public_info/whisky_rebellion.shtml