Fwd: Re: Of Spirits Distilled...

[Nik Hughes <Nik_Hughes@ess.niaid.pc.niaid.nih.gov>]

Eogan writes:

>This is reminescent of the FBI warnings at the beginnings of movies.  
>Yes, it's a federal offence to make a copy of the tape you rented at 
>Pick-a-Flick, but then again, it's also illegal to record movies off of 
>straight TV unless you have the copywriter's permission.  Yet VCRs do a 
>booming business.  You won't get caught unless you try to make a 
>business out of it (which, if I remember correctly, someone in 
>Charlotte tried to do earlier this year).  The same applies to this 
>brewing law.  Make it for yourself, make it for a friend.  Just don't 
>open a store, or donate a ton to the Police Auction.

Actually you might want to be just a little more careful than Eogan 
advises. At least as far as distilling goes. This is just the sort of 
law that the guvmint can use to nail your hide to the wall if they are 
looking for an excuse. Imagine you are in a car full of long-haired 
hippy-type freaks driving through small-town amurica. (Sounds like 
driving to an SCA event, no?) Imagine further that the local constable 
doesn't like your looks and wants to ruin your day (week/month) to the 
point where you never, ever want to come back. That bottle of home made 
liquor without the revenooers seal would be worth LOTS of hassles. 

You say you never carry your product with you? Well, have you EVER 
pissed someone off? One anonymous tip and you could get an official 
visit from guvmint representatives who would just LOVE to hear your 
explanation for why you make/have untaxed liquor in your house.

And heaven forfend that the BATF gets interested in you. Playing with 
the Feds is serious, big-time trouble.

No, this is one of those areas where it is too easy to trip up and end 
up in a world of trouble. Better to find out exactly what the law states 
and keep within it.

Troll/Klaus/Nik