When I see something like this the first thing I think is that there can only be two reasons for it: corruption and/or stupidity. Based on the comments by these legislators we obviously can’t rule out the latter but to have such a hard stance on it implies, at least to me, that the former is also involved.
most legislators are an embarrassment. most of them probably couldn’t hold a job that a teenager could do. if it weren’t for politics they would be living in cars and boxes. then maybe they would be greatful for a little fermented grain drink
Just goes to show how important it is to research everything before you move to a new state. Was the AHA involved in this?
Your signature line says that there is no law against it. I don’t understand.
Let’s move the AHA Conference to Alabama. It probably generates a ton of revenue, so that’s an attraction. And then let’s move the National Competition to Alabama to judge a few rounds. Again, more state revenue for the coffers.
Of course none of this would be approved by the legislator. That’s where the money comes in. Start telling people that their arcane laws prevented $XX,XXX from coming to the state. Then talk about the tax that would generate more revenue on the sale of raw ingredients that goes to out-of-state vendors. How much beer is brewed locally in the state? Probably not that much, so there’s more revenue leaving the state.
You need to take the issue and add dollars to it. There are few things that can incite or excite people, and money is one of them. So when the shrinking budget discussions start, so should the loss of revenue because of these laws. Then you’ll get people’s attention.
Also, this legislation should be bolted onto something else. Talk to the bill sponsors and see if there is a way to better position it, tie it to revenue, and then attach it to a larger bill.
It’s a stretch, but you could show that a good potion (unknown to me) of homebrewers go on to start commercial operations (as brewpubs and breweries), which in turn generate a considerable amount of tax revenue for the state and jobs in the local communities.
Money talks.
I think what the sig line is saying is that Alabama has it bass-ackwards. Generally, something is legal unless there is a law making it illegal. It doesn’t work the other way around…unless you’re either corrupt or stupid (which it should be obvious by now that the 'Bama Legislature are at least one of those things and probably both).
Having worked with Alabama homebrewers since John Little got this whole process started four years ago, I really thought this was the year we would see homebrewing legalized in the state.
Even though the outcome this year is extremely disappointing, especially with so many of the bill’s co-sponsors voting against it, the Alabama homebrewers who have pour their hearts and souls, and probably some IPA, into the campaign to get homebrewing legalized, should take great pride in the work they have done. I am very impressed with their dedication to this cause. This year, it seemed everything was going right, and from my vantage point, I just can’t see anything that could have been done differently to get a better outcome.
Hopefully in the coming days we’ll get a better sense of what really went down with the House vote on HB266 and can reevaluate our approach for the future.
Gary
yeah what’s the story there? Why sponsor a bill and then vote against it? Was it amended, or do they just enjoy bringing stuff up for discussion just so they can shoot it down?
Pure speculation here, but usually the problem is someone very loud finds out about the bill and then brings pressure to bear against the politician that wasn’t there when they sponsored the bill.
In this case, maybe what happened was an organization with strong influence “The Religious Anti-Alcohol Front” (not real, but it sounds like an ironic punk band). They found out about the bill at the last minute and had hteir supporters loudly contact the legislators in question (“Won’t you think of the children being exposed to demon booze? If you don’t, we won’t vote for you!”)
The AHA has similarly rallied the troops in the past for things in line with our concerns like when they’re about to introduce a law that would have inadvertently outlawed homebrewing competitions here. We rallied to get the legislation modified to clearly allow what we do.
Most politicians spend their time, not legislating, but campaigning to avoid losing an election. It’s a fear driven business.
Like Gary said, let’s wait a few days and see what really happened. Eventually someone (like a sympathetic aide) will talk and tell you what happened and why. Follow the money (donations have to be reported–but you might have to wait till the end of the year to see the list). My guess is that someone (e.g., beer distributor) or some coalition (e.g., bar owners, package stores, restaurants) who makes money on commercial beer sales, doesn’t want y’all staying home and drinking your homebrewed beer when you would otherwise be buying theirs.
If all the Alabama homebrewers were millionaires, and could donate large sums of money to every politician in the Alabama Legislature, the law would be changed right away.
you know, sometimes you just have to ignore laws.
Alabama
You got the rest of the union
to help you along
What’s going wrong?
Tom, are you sure that citation is correct? I wanted to read it and can’t find it anywhere.
Lovett v. State, 1943
I tried caselaw.findlaw.com and findacase.com
It might be that they don’t have the right databases, do you know where I can find it?
Exactly. There are even a few homebrew supply shops in Alabama. I haven’t read a single story ever about a homebrew supply shop being raided & closed down 'cuase homebrewing is technically illegal in the state.
What the shops are doing - selling grains, sugars, hops, yeast, etc - isn’t illegal as far as I know.
True, but they’re dumb enough to keep homebrewing illegal there, so I wouldn’t put it past them to harrass the shops. lol
Bingo.
- I have no kids. I’m sure there are lots of homebrewers (or wanna be homebrewers) in AL that don’t have kids either.
- Throw underage parties? Good lord why? That’s MY homebrew! ;) (This is an extremely lame excuse - can they point to this being an issue in ANY state where homebrewing is currently legal? I doubt it.)
I’m surprised they allow you guys in AL to cook at home! I mean, what if your cooking/food handling skills are poor and you make someone sick!? The horror! lol
So making beer at home that’s 10X better than the Bud light crap they buy at the store & drink is ‘low class’? Morons. First class morons.
Boot-legging is ‘smuggling’ liquor (the term doesn’t cover beer to my knowledge, but I could be wrong). What, exactly, is being ‘sumggled’ when we homebrew?
I’ll have to visit AL someday, but I know I could never live there. The basic level of stupidity and ignorance, just from the local politicians in this example, would make me want to kill myself. lol
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As far as I can tell, if there is no law specifically prohibiting it in Alabama then it is not technically illegal to homebrew, because it is legal federally. However it is illegal to possess homebrewing equipment because of this (my emphasis):
And Tom, I’m pretty sure that case you mention doesn’t apply. In 1943 when it was decided it would have been correct, but back then homebrewing was illegal federally and states didn’t need a law prohibiting it. When Carter legalized it in 1979 it should have automatically become legal in every state that did not have a law against it. The law against possessing equipment to make beer without a license should cover them for busting most people, but I think if you had a homebrew in your hand there would be nothing they could do because making homebrew itself is not illlegal so you are not in possession of an illegally made alcoholic beverage. Tenuous perhaps, but one could make the argument.
I’m not suggesting anyone test my ideas ;) I’m not a lawyer, I’m not familiar with all Alabama laws, and I’m assuming there is no law that specifically prohibits homebrewing. Just thinking about the subject.