Contents
Is it legal to distill alcohol in West Virginia?
1/1/2015 last updated
It is legal to own a still in West Virginia as long as you do not use it to distill moonshine. West Virginia does require a license to manufacture your own fuel, or to manufacture your own essential oils, etc. WV Code § 60-6-10 (2015) A person who unlawfully owns, operates, or maintains a plant for the manufacture of distilled spirits, or aids or abets in the operation or maintenance of such a plant shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or confined in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than five years.
- A still can be used for the production of distilled water, essential oils, etc.
- If a $5.00 license is requested.
- WV Code § 60-4-8 (2015) The commission shall license a still used by a commercial chemist for laboratory purposes only, and not used for the purpose of the manufacture of alcoholic liquors for resale, at a fee of five dollars.
Residents can manufacture their own alcohol fuel for personal use if they apply for a $5.00 license. West Virginia does offer licenses to run a distillery or micro distillery. There are several licenses you need to request to legally manufacture spirits.
- Below are the federal licenses only.
- Additional state requirements will need to be followed as well.
- You must submit a request for a license to manufacture spirits: TTB 5110.41 Basic permit,
- This license only allows you to produce spirits.
- You also need a license for the distilling equipment / distillery: TTB 5100.24 Distilled spirit plant For manufacturing ethanol fuel you will need to submit a request for a TTB 5110.74 for a federal license,
WV Code § 60-6-10 (2015) A person who unlawfully owns, operates, or maintains a plant for the manufacture of distilled spirits, or aids or abets in the operation or maintenance of such a plant shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or confined in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than five years.
- WV Code § 60-4-8 (2015) The commission shall license a still used by a commercial chemist for laboratory purposes only, and not used for the purpose of the manufacture of alcoholic liquors for resale, at a fee of five dollars.
- WV Code § 60-6-11 (2015) A person who, while engaged in the unlawful manufacture, transportation or sale of alcoholic liquors, or while aiding or assisting in any of such acts, has in his actual or constructive possession a firearm or other lethal weapon, shall be guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be confined in the penitentiary not less than one nor more than ten years.
Current federal laws allow citizens the right to own a still and operate it for non-alcohol production. This means legally you can:
Is home distilling legal in West Virginia?
Is It Illegal To Make Moonshine In West Virginia ? West Virginia is no stranger to moonshine and many people’s lively hoods used to depend on it. That is, until the government imposed heavy taxes on moonshine and production went way down and those that did continue to produce did so in secrecy.
Is West Virginia still a dry state?
Drinking age and dry counties – The drinking age was 18 for beer/wine and 21 for liquor until 1972, when it was lowered to 18 for all beverages (along with the age of majority). It was then raised to 19 in 1983 (21 for non-residents) and 21 for all in 1986.
Can you drink as a passenger in West Virginia?
§17C-5D-3. Possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of a motor vehicle; exceptions; penalties. – (a) It is unlawful for the operator or a passenger of a motor vehicle to consume any alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle located on a public highway or right-of-way of a public highway in this state, whether the vehicle is in motion or at rest.
(b) It is unlawful for the operator or a passenger of a motor vehicle to knowingly possess any open alcoholic beverage container in the passenger area of any motor vehicle that is located on a public highway or right-of-way of a public highway in this state, whether the vehicle is in motion or at rest.
Possession by a person of one or more open containers in a single criminal occurrence is a single offense. (c) The provisions of this section are not applicable to a passenger: (1) In the passenger area of a motor vehicle designed, maintained or used primarily for the transportation of persons for compensation including, but not limited to, a bus, taxicab or limousine; or (2) In the living quarters of a motorized or nonmotorized house coach, house trailer, motor home or self-contained camper.
D) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100. Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2020 Regular Session The West Virginia Code Online is an unofficial copy of the annotated WV Code, provided as a convenience.
It has NOT been edited for publication, and is not in any way official or authoritative.
Is West Virginia considered a red state?
West Virginia, which seceded from Virginia (which itself had seceded from the Union) during the Civil War, became its own state in June 1863. It and Nevada were the only states admitted during the War, although Kansas became a state in early 1861, just a couple months before the hostilities began.
- The state has shifted several times between supporting the Democratic or Republican party in its history, with each shift tending to last a generation or more.
- Primarily Republican from 1900 until the Great Depression, the state was then reliably Democratic, with few exceptions through Bill Clinton’s 2nd election in 1996.
Since then, the state has become solidly Republican, with that party winning by an increasing margin in each election from 2000 through 2016. Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 42% in 2016 and Joe Biden by 39% in 2020. In both cases, it was Trump’s 2nd largest margin, trailing only Wyoming.
Can you buy alcohol on Sunday in WV?
Gov. Justice signs bill allowing Sunday liquor sales in West Virginia UPDATE (March 1): West Virginians can now buy liquor on Sundays. Republican Gov. Jim Justice on Thursday signed a measure allowing stores to sell liquor on Sundays after 1 p.m. The Distilled Spirits Council is cheering the move, saying the law could bring in more than $1 million in state revenue.
- The new rule doesn’t allow retailers to sell liquor on Christmas or Easter.
- _
- UPDATE (Feb.18):
- The West Virginia Senate has passed a bill that would allow retail outlets to sell liquor on Sundays.
On a 22-11 Monday vote, the Senate approved the bill to permit liquor sales after 1 p.m. on Sundays. The bill now goes back to the House of Delegates, which had earlier approved the bill. The House must weigh in on an amendment that no liquor sales can occur on Christmas or Easter when those days fall on a Sunday.
- _
- ORIGINAL STORY (Feb.8):
- The West Virginia House of Delegates has passed a bill that would allow liquor to be sold on Sundays.
- While the bill still has to make its way through the Senate before it becomes law, public support seems to already be behind the bill.
- Stephen Meyers, a Harrison County resident, says the bill would hopefully bring more economic growth to our area.
- “I think that if we were to do that, it would bring a lot more business growth directly to the state,” said Meyers.
- He also believes that the bill currently in place that prohibits alcohol sales on Sunday is more a relic of the past than a law that’s necessary for today.
“Not selling on Sundays just seems like an archaic thing,” Meyers said. “Things like Election Day laws and things like that which prevent the sale of alcohol, as well, kind of seem like they’re counter-productive because we don’t live in that era anymore.”
- Of the people WDTV spoke to, the majority of people were in favor of this bill becoming law.
- One day that will be unchanged by the law is Christmas, on which the sale of liquor would still be illegal.
- Virginia’s law banning the sale of liquor on Sundays was repealed in 2012.
: Gov. Justice signs bill allowing Sunday liquor sales in West Virginia
What is the drink of West Virginia?
West Virginia: Gin and tonic – You may associate a gin and tonic with a chic pub in London, but, Gin and tonics are local favorites in the state, usually served with aged gin, tonic, seltzer, and lemon oil, says The Daily Meal. : Do you know Virginia’s signature drink?
What is the most popular alcohol in West Virginia?
West Virginia: Gin and tonic – You may associate a gin and tonic with a chic pub in London, but, Gin and tonics are local favorites in the state, usually served with aged gin, tonic, seltzer, and lemon oil, says The Daily Meal.