What Are The Penalties For Selling Moonshine In Alabama?

1/1/2015 last updated

Because Alabama has dry and wet counties the laws regarding stills are specific to each county. You will need to look up your specific county to find out if it is a dry or wet county. In Alabama it is legal to own a still for non-spirit making usages such as essential oils or distilling water in wet counties.

In dry counties ownership of a still for any reason is illegal as is legal production and sale of spirits. Because of this Alabama is listed here based off dry county laws. Section 28-4-24 reads as follows Any person, firm or corporation who shall, within this state, distill, make or manufacture any alcoholic, spirituous, malted or mixed liquors or beverages, any part of which is alcohol, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor in the penitentiary for not less than one year nor longer than five years, such imprisonment to be fixed within these limits by the court.

Section 28-1-1 reads as follows In all counties of the state it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to have in his or its possession any still or apparatus to be used for the manufacture of any alcoholic beverage of any kind or any alcoholic beverage of any kind illegally manufactured or transported within the state or imported into the state from any other place without authority of the alcoholic control board of the state, and any person, firm or corporation violating this provision or who transports any illegally manufactured alcoholic beverages or who manufactures illegally any alcoholic beverages shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided by law.

• Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Because of the restrictions in dry counties it is illegal to produce fuel even with a federal license.
• Wet counties that allow stills for non-spirit production should allow production of fuel with a federal license.
• A county issued license is available and required.

Read the REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS for more information. You may also want to read about the TTB alcohol fuel laws, The state of Alabama requires a License Type 200 – Manufacturer’s License with a license fee of $500. 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,

Dry Counties: It is illegal to manufacture moonshine or to possess a still regardless of usage in these counties. It seems like even legal distilleries are not even allowed. Wet Counties: It is illegal to manufacture moonshine or to possess a still for the production of spirits.

But because there are no laws specific to owning a still for non-spirit production it is legal to own a still or to use it for other purposes (essential oils, water, etc.). There are currently no laws that allow for non-commercial production of spirits in Alabama therefore citizens are unable to produce spirits for personal use.

It is illegal to be in possession of moonshine. Current federal laws allow citizens the right to own a still and operate it for non-alcohol production. This means legally you can:

Is it illegal to make moonshine for personal use in Alabama?

Is It Illegal To Make Moonshine In Alabama ? Despite legal efforts to become a ‘dry’ state, moonshine production in Alabama did not slow down. It took over 90 years for Alabama to open it’s first legal distillery.Is it Legal to Own a Still in Alabama ? Alabama’s still laws are split into two categories: wet counties, and dry counties.

What are the penalties for distilling alcohol in the US?

Home Distilling While individuals of legal drinking age may produce wine or beer at home for personal or family use, Federal law strictly prohibits individuals from producing distilled spirits at home (see 26 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5042(a)(2) and 5053(e)).

Within title 26 of the United States Code, section 5601 sets out criminal penalties for activities including the following. Offenses under this section are felonies that are punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for each offense.

• 5601(a)(1) – Possession of an unregistered still.
• 5601(a)(2) – Engaging in business as a distiller without filing an application and receiving notice of registration.
• 5601(a)(6) – Distilling on a prohibited premises. (Under 26 U.S.C.5178(a)(1)(B), a distilled spirits plant may not be located in a residence or in sheds, yards, or enclosures connected to a residence.)
• 5601(a)(7) – Unlawful production or use of material fit for production of distilled spirits.
• 5601(a)(8) – Unlawful production of distilled spirits.
• 5601(a)(11) – Purchase, receipt, and/or processing of distilled spirits when the person who does so knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that Federal excise tax has not been paid on the spirits.
• 5601(a)(12) – Removal or concealment of distilled spirits on which tax has not been paid.

Under 26 U.S.C.5602, engaging in business as a distiller with intent to defraud the United States of tax is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under 26 U.S.C.5604(a)(1), transporting, possessing, buying, selling, or transferring any distilled spirit unless the container bears the closure required by 26 U.S.C.5301(d) (i.e., a closure that must be broken in order to open the container) is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for each offense.

1. Under 26 U.S.C.5613, all distilled spirits not closed, marked, and branded as required by law and the TTB regulations shall be forfeited to the United States.
2. In addition, 26 U.S.C.5615(1) provides that unregistered stills and/or distilling apparatus also will be forfeited.
3. Under 26 U.S.C.5615(3), whenever any person carries on the business of a distiller without having given the required bond or with the intent to defraud the United States of tax on distilled spirits, the personal property of that person located in the distillery, and that person’s interest in the tract of land on which the still is located, shall be forfeited to the United States.

Under 26 U.S.C.5686, possessing liquor or property intended to be used in violation of the law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Such liquor and property is also subject to the seizure and forfeiture provisions in 26 U.S.C.5688.

• Under 26 U.S.C.7201, any person who willfully attempts to evade or defeat any Internal Revenue Code tax (including the tax on distilled spirits) has committed a felony and shall be fined up to $100,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both, plus the cost of prosecution.
• Under 26 U.S.C.7301, any property subject to tax, or raw materials and/or equipment for the production of such property, in the possession of any person for the purpose of being sold or removed in violation of the internal revenue laws may be seized and shall be forfeited to the United States.

In addition, any property (including aircraft, vehicles, and vessels) used to transport or used as a container for such property or materials may be seized and shall be forfeited to the United States. Further, 26 U.S.C.7302 adds that it is unlawful to possess any property intended for use, or which has been used, in violation of the internal revenue laws; no property rights shall exist in any such property.

What are the blue laws in Alabama?

As more state legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, society’s view on the drug will change. In Alabama, marijuana is still illegal in all forms. Alabama’s marijuana laws are some of the most strict in the country. People facing legal issues due to the sale or use of marijuana can be facing some serious repercussion.

• Unlike states such as louisiana and Texas, felony charges, mandatory jail time, and/or very massive fines are all possible repercussions in Alabama for possessing or selling even small amounts of pot.
• The punishments in Alabama associated with marijuana are as follows: ? 1st possession charge for personal use is considered a Class A Misdemeanor and can carry no more than a 1 year in jail and a fine up to $6,000.

? 2nd possession charge or if the drug is not considered to be for personal use is considered a Class C Felony. Unlike other states, there is no set amount of cannabis that classifies as personal use. It’s at the court and arresting officer’s discretion.

• A Class C Felony in Alabama can result in 1-10 years in prison and a fine up to $15,000.
• Selling, delivering, or distributing marijuana in any capacity is a Class B Felony and can result in 2-10 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.
• Anyone over the age of 18 caught selling marijuana to a person under the age of 18, will face a Class A Felony charge.

This can carry a minimum sentence of 10-99 years in prison and up to a $60,000 fine. Selling marijuana within 3 miles of a school or university may result in a 5-year prison sentence. Anyone caught cultivating or trafficking marijuana in Alabama face some extremely harsh mandatory sentences.

1. The charges they face is based on the amount of marijuana hey were found growing or trafficking.
2. For 1 kilo to 100 lbs – the minimum is 3 years and there’s a mandatory $25,000 fine ? For 100-500 lbs -the minimum is 5 years and a $50,000 fine ? For 500-1000 lbs – the minimum is 15 years and a $200,000 fine ? For over 1000 lbs – the penalty is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole There is a law called the “Alabama Drug Trafficking Enterprise Act”.

The goal of this law is to increase the number of gang leaders or “drug kingpins” arrests and have them face much more strict charges. This law carries mandatory minimum sentences for any person who manages five or more people in what is considered a “drug trafficking or cultivating enterprise.” For a first conviction, the minimum stay behind bars is 25 years, plus a huge fine between $50,000 and $500,000.

1. If one is convicted for a second time, they will face life in prison without the possibility of parole and a $150,000 to $1,000,000 fine.
2. Alabama does not allow the sale or prescribing of medical marijuana, but it does allow medical CBD oil, a prescription must be written by a doctor or physician.
3. CBD oils are derived from marijuana.

These extracts that do not contain any amount of THC. Alabama citizens can shop cbd hemp by purchasing it online or visiting a store that sells a range of CBD based products. As you cannot smoke marijuana in Alabama legally, you may want to check out some tools to accompany smoking or replace marijuana intake, you should take a look at websites such as VapeWild,

1. There’s a whole host of different products available, ranging from oils to drinks and gummy bears – retailers like the CBD Variety Shop cover the majority of them as well.
2. Now that we have covered the laws on drugs, the Alabama alcohol laws also need to be covered What Are Alabama’s Alcohol Laws? The legal drinking age in Alabama is 21 years or older, like a good portion of the United States.

This means any persons under the age of 21 cannot purchase, consume, or possess alcoholic beverages, It doesn’t matter if they are under the supervision or a parent or guardian. All residents of Alabama are required to hold and show a valid government issued identification card or passport if they plan on consuming or possessing alcohol.

Establishments are required to ask for proper identification prior to selling someone any alcohol. Like much of the South, Alabama does have blue laws. Blue laws are certain alcohol sale restrictions, mostly relating to Sunday. Much of Alabama prohibits or restricts the sale of alcohol on Sundays. This varies by jurisdiction.

Some counties and cities may only restrict Sunday liquor sales, while some may allow alcohol sales during certain hours on Sunday. If you are visiting Alabama, ask a local store that sells alcohol or a hotel about their local alcohol laws. Some areas in Alabama are completely dry, meaning the sale of alcohol is prohibited every minute of every day of the week.

In some areas it may even be illegal to consume alcohol in these counties/towns. It is very important to speak with local businesses or law enforcement officers regarding the laws before trying to purchase or consume alcohol. If you or someone you’re with plan on drinking while in Alabama, make sure you buy your beverages in state.

It is illegal to bring alcohol from out of state and sell/consume it in Alabama. The legal BAC limit is 0.08%, as it is in most of the country. Anyone with a BAC of,08 or higher can face a DUI/DWI if they are operating any type of vehicle sometimes even bicycles.

How much moonshine can I legally make in Alabama?

1/1/2015 last updated

Because Alabama has dry and wet counties the laws regarding stills are specific to each county. You will need to look up your specific county to find out if it is a dry or wet county. In Alabama it is legal to own a still for non-spirit making usages such as essential oils or distilling water in wet counties.

• In dry counties ownership of a still for any reason is illegal as is legal production and sale of spirits.
• Because of this Alabama is listed here based off dry county laws.
• Section 28-4-24 reads as follows Any person, firm or corporation who shall, within this state, distill, make or manufacture any alcoholic, spirituous, malted or mixed liquors or beverages, any part of which is alcohol, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment at hard labor in the penitentiary for not less than one year nor longer than five years, such imprisonment to be fixed within these limits by the court.

Section 28-1-1 reads as follows In all counties of the state it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to have in his or its possession any still or apparatus to be used for the manufacture of any alcoholic beverage of any kind or any alcoholic beverage of any kind illegally manufactured or transported within the state or imported into the state from any other place without authority of the alcoholic control board of the state, and any person, firm or corporation violating this provision or who transports any illegally manufactured alcoholic beverages or who manufactures illegally any alcoholic beverages shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided by law.

Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Because of the restrictions in dry counties it is illegal to produce fuel even with a federal license. Wet counties that allow stills for non-spirit production should allow production of fuel with a federal license. A county issued license is available and required.

Read the REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS for more information. You may also want to read about the TTB alcohol fuel laws, The state of Alabama requires a License Type 200 – Manufacturer’s License with a license fee of $500. 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,

Dry Counties: It is illegal to manufacture moonshine or to possess a still regardless of usage in these counties. It seems like even legal distilleries are not even allowed. Wet Counties: It is illegal to manufacture moonshine or to possess a still for the production of spirits.

1. But because there are no laws specific to owning a still for non-spirit production it is legal to own a still or to use it for other purposes (essential oils, water, etc.).
2. There are currently no laws that allow for non-commercial production of spirits in Alabama therefore citizens are unable to produce spirits for personal use.

It is illegal to be in possession of moonshine. Current federal laws allow citizens the right to own a still and operate it for non-alcohol production. This means legally you can:

Is moonshine still busted in Alabama?

Authorities shut down moonshine operation: ‘We’ve cost them a lot of money’ BULLOCK COUNTY, Ala. (WSFA/Gray News) – A moonshine still in Alabama is out of business after authorities uncovered and shut down the illegal operation Wednesday.

• “We’ve cost them a lot of money here today,” Pike County Sheriff Russell Thomas said.
• reports that 30 barrels of mash and a vat full of distilled moonshine were found and destroyed by the Pike County and Bullock County sheriff’s offices.
• “If you don’t destroy it, they’ll reuse it,” Thomas said.

Authorities said the still was found about two miles down a dirt road. The still was found in Bullock County, but the road that led to it was in Pike County, which is why both offices are involved. Deputies reported they destroyed about $5,000 of material used to run the operation.

• The still was estimated to generate about 600 gallons of moonshine per batch, bringing in about $5,000 worth of moonshine a week.
• Officials said the property owner likely had no idea the still was on their land while investigators continued to work on finding those running the operation.
• Bullock County Sheriff Raymond Rodgers said if moonshine is made with the wrong equipment, it could be deadly.

“People actually drink this stuff, and they can get lead poisoning. I have people who have died from lead poison because of drinking moonshine,” Rodgers said. “It’s not a healthy drink, because it’s not manufactured the right way.”

1. Investigators said they were unsure how long the operation had been in business but believed it had been there a while based on the decay of nearby trees from the runoff.
2. Thomas said the still was used within hours of the bust because it was warm to the touch.
3. Authorities said operating a moonshine still is a felony and punishable by up to five years in prison.

Copyright 2022 WSFA via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. : Authorities shut down moonshine operation: ‘We’ve cost them a lot of money’

Can you own a still in Louisiana?

1/1/2015 last updated

Louisiana defers state laws to the federal laws, which means it should be legal to own a still if it is not used in the manufacture of moonshine and using a still for distilling water, manufacturing essential oils, etc. should be legal. The manufacture of distilled spirits is illegal.

Louisiana ATC law book Louisiana ATC applications ATC website

I could not find any information about ethanol fuel licenses but there are several producers in Louisiana so licenses seem to be available. §71. Permits required; fees; exception Except as provided in Subsections B and C of this Section, before engaging in the business of manufacturing, supplying, or dealing in alcoholic beverages, all persons shall obtain from the commissioner, according to established rules and regulations, a permit to conduct each separate business and shall pay the commissioner a fee not to exceed the amounts provided for in the following schedule and in accordance with regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act for each year the permit is valid:

(1)(a) In-state manufacturers – one thousand dollars for each establishment in the state. (b) Out-of-state manufacturers and suppliers who do not maintain an establishment in the state. (i) Manufacturers and suppliers who sell less than one thousand cases of their product in the state – two hundred dollars. (ii) All other out-of-state manufacturers and suppliers – one thousand dollars. (2) Wholesalers – two thousand five hundred dollars for each place of business in the state. (3) Retailers – (a) There shall be three types of Class A retail liquor permits: (i) Class A-General – two hundred dollars for each place of business in any city in the state and one hundred dollars for each place of business in a town, village, or unincorporated place. (ii) Class A-Restaurant – two hundred dollars for each establishment in the state. (iii) Class A-Special – two hundred dollars for each facility in the state.

§71.3. Microdistillery; retail sales for consumption on or off premises

A. Any person who has properly obtained a microdistiller’s permit as provided for in R.S.26:71, shall be authorized to engage in the distilling, making, blending, rectifying, or processing of any alcoholic beverage in Louisiana in a quantity not to exceed twelve thousand gallons during the licensed year. The holder of such permit shall also be authorized to sell the manufactured beverages at retail for consumption on or off the licensed premises, if the holder also has been issued a Retailer Class A permit.B. The provisions of this Section shall not authorize the holder of a microdistiller’s permit to sell the manufactured beverages at wholesale or to any wholesale dealer.C. The microdistiller shall not sell any alcoholic beverages for transportation off the premises to any other licensed alcoholic beverage retail dealer.D. Beverages produced by a microdistiller shall be taxed in the same manner and at the same rate as beverages produced by other manufacturers, as provided by law.E. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.26:149, microdistillers may reuse alcoholic beverage containers in connection with distilling and bottling operations.F. Prior to commencing distilling operations, microdistillers shall obtain approval from the state fire marshal.

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,
• I was unable to find any specific laws or fines specific to still ownership, or the manufacture or transportation of moonshine.

Current federal laws allow citizens the right to own a still and operate it for non-alcohol production. This means legally you can:

What is the purple law in Alabama?

It’s not as noteworthy as, say, a tax decrease or more school funding, so when the Alabama legislature passed the state’s so-called “purple paint law” in 2016, it received little fanfare. Officials with organizations such as the Alabama Farmers Federation (AFF) or the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office did their best to get the word out, but few likely paid much attention. This graphic from the Alabama Farmers Federation explains the requirements for using the state’s so-called “purple paint law.” The legislature adopted the law as a low-cost alternative to posting no trespassing signs. The purple paint also has the advantages of high visibility and difficulty of removal.

Prior to the adoption of the purple paint law, an intruder on private property was not necessarily a trespasser unless “notice against trespass is personally communicated to him by the owner of such land or another authorized person, or unless such notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner,” under Alabama law.

The purple paint addition gives landowners a second means of meeting the “conspicuous manner” requirement. The law, found in Alabama code 13A-7-1, reads: “A sign or signs posted on the property, reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, indicating that entry is forbidden or the placement of identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts on the property.” In order for those purple marks to be valid, the following conditions must be met:

They must be vertical lines of not less than eight inches in length and not less than one inch in width. They are placed so that the bottom of the mark is not less than three feet from the ground or more than five feet from the ground. The are placed at locations that are readily visible to any person approaching the property and are no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land.

It’s important to remember that not every state has purple paint laws. Other states with purple paint laws are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

So purple paint markings on a property in Mississippi, for example, would have no legal significance. Additionally, although called “purple paint laws,” not every state with such laws on the books actually requires purple paint. Idaho and Montana requires orange paint, while Maryland requires blue. Also, in North Carolina, purple paint does not denote “no trespassing,” but instead signifies no hunting, fishing or trapping on the property.

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Can you drink in the car in Alabama?

(b) It is unlawful for a person to have in his or her possession alcoholic beverages in an open container in the passenger area of a motor vehicle of any kind on a public highway or right-of-way of a public highway of this state.

Can you drink in the backseat in Alabama?

Exceptions to Alabama’s Open Container Restrictions – Certain vehicles. Alabama’s open container law isn’t applicable to passengers riding in certain types of vehicles, including statutorily authorized for-hire vehicles and buses operated by a holder of a commercial driver’s license.

Motorhomes and campers. Passengers in the living quarters of a mobile home or camper are also exempt from the open container law. Areas of the vehicle. Alabama’s open container laws are meant to apply to the passenger areas of vehicles. So, the restrictions aren’t applicable to items in the trunk or luggage compartment of a car.

Items located in the bed of a truck or in a locked compartment behind the front seat of a pickup truck are also exempt. Unknown to the driver, Drivers who didn’t know of and could not have accessed an open container found by law enforcement aren’t guilty of the violation.

Is home brewing legal in Alabama?

Discussion – The Alabama homebrew statute permits the home production of beer, mead and cider in wet counties an municipalities. Convicted felons are not permitted to make beer, mead or cider for personal use. The statute limits production to 15 gallons per calendar quarter and possession at any time to 15 gallons.

What states made the most moonshine?

Copper still White lightning. Mountain dew. Hooch. Moonshine may conjure images of backwood “pappies” distilling liquor in creeks at the risk of getting caught by the Feds. You might have even seen the popular television show Moonshiners or the film Lawless,

• One thing is for certain and it’s that the illegally distilled, high proof, unfiltered corn whiskey is something you’ll only find in the South.
• Its history dates back to Scots-Irish settlers in 1800s Appalachia as a way to avoid paying taxes on imported whiskey.
• It used corn, which grows easily in the region, and often incorporated fruits like peaches for flavoring.

When revenue agents started chasing after moonshiners in an effort to force taxes upon them, the trend of racing from “the law” was started. The roots of NASCAR have been traced back to moonshiners and their specially outfitted vehicles. Moonshine looks clear, tastes raw, and sells fast.

It usually runs close to 100 proof or more. To make it, sugar, water, yeast, cornmeal, and malt are variously combined and processed in three stages: fermentation, distillation, and condensation. – Encyclopedia of Southern Culture My interactions with moonshine had been limited until recently. While touring the town of Greensboro, Georgia, I tucked into the local newspaper, where I was offered peach moonshine from the editor.

A few months later, I attended my first mud bog and was offered more at 8 am. I politely declined. The liquor has seen a popular, albeit legal, resurgence, but its roots are found in the mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. My first sip of moonshine, 2012 The liquor has seen a popular, albeit legal, resurgence, but its roots are found in the mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee as well as West Virginia and Kentucky, In fact, moonshine country extends beyond these states, but the largest number of illegal stills were seized from Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

• Today, visitors to the region can still experience the moonshine culture.
• Many of the same family recipes are used in legal versions, just with more government oversight and many more taxes.
• Not every state makes it easy for these operations to exist, which is why some states boast more moonshine distilleries than others.

You might be surprised just how drinkable moonshine is when made well, mixed into a cocktail in place of just about any liquor. Some distilleries market their corn whiskey, but these actually market using the word “moonshine” or use traditional methods.

Is homebrewing legal in Alabama?

Discussion – The Alabama homebrew statute permits the home production of beer, mead and cider in wet counties an municipalities. Convicted felons are not permitted to make beer, mead or cider for personal use. The statute limits production to 15 gallons per calendar quarter and possession at any time to 15 gallons.

What are the alcohol laws in Alabama?

Underage consumption, purchasing or possession of alcohol – The legal drinking age in Alabama for consumption of an alcoholic beverage is 21. Purchasing, possessing or consuming alcohol prior to your 21st birthday is a first-degree misdemeanor. The maximum penalties associated with this offense are six months imprisonment or a $1,000 fine or both.

Is it illegal to make wine in Alabama?

Home brewing legal in Alabama MONTGOMERY | Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed legislation into law Thursday to allow people to make beer and wine at home starting immediately, making the state the last to act to legalize the hobby.

Bentley spokeswoman Jennifer Ardis said the governor, who doesn’t drink alcohol, had no comment on the new law.The Legislature passed the bill Tuesday after five years of grassroots lobbying by home brewers to get their hobby out of the shadows.”It’s a glorious day because for the first time since Prohibition, all 50 states will allow hobbyist home brewing,” said Brant Warren of Huntsville, a member of the Right to Brew organization.

The American Homebrewers Association estimates there are 1 million home brewers nationwide, with about 5,000 of them in Alabama. State law previously banned individuals from owning equipment to make alcohol. The state liquor control agency had cracked down on the retail sale of equipment, but not on home brewers. Alabama and Mississippi had been the last remaining states to ban home brewing, but Mississippi passed a law in March. Megan McCourt, a spokeswoman for the American Homebrewers Association, said Mississippi’s law has a 90-day delay before it takes effect, which means Alabama’s law actually goes into effect first. The Alabama law allows home brewers to make 15 gallons of beer or wine every three months. Warren said that is less than most states allow, but it was necessary to get enough support in the Legislature to pass the bill. The law allows home brewers to take their products to tastings and competitions, but they can’t sell it. The bill drew opposition from the church-based Alabama Citizen Action Program. Executive Director Joe Godfrey said the bill marked the latest in a series of measures passed by the Legislature to increase access to alcohol, and he predicted it will lead to more alcoholism. : Home brewing legal in Alabama