June 6, 2011
Illegal: Homebrewing in Alabama
If you haven't seen it already, you have to watch this video that Northern Brewer and Brewing TV put together on the defeat of the Alabama homebrewing bill. It will change your mind on the state of homebrewing in the US.
Seen it? Ok, good.
Now, what is really revealing to me is how totally removed and ignorant these legislators are about homebrewing, the culture and the hobby. I'm not saying that these guys are dumb people or anything (well, most of them aren't), but they obviously have no idea what homebrewing entails. Comments like, "What is m-e-a-d mead?" and "Mead, whatever that is" are only the start. One congressman talks about how this bill will make the bootlegger in his district happy. First of all, how do you even have a bootlegger when purchasing alcohol is completely legal in 99% of the country? Even if you live in a dry county, the next county over probably has alcohol, and all anyone has to do is go over there and buy it, it's a lot easier than spending months making it yourself. And then he talks about how if this bill passes the bootlegger would probably brew beer and then have a party and invite his friends over. What the hell is wrong with that?
Homebrewing is not a get rich quick scheme, it takes a lot of time and care. Kids aren't going to start homebrewing en masse to get alcohol; they haven't in the other 48 states where homebrewing is legal. And all the congressmen talking about how making alcohol at home could be dangerous or isn't "healthy": you just have absolutely no idea how beer is made, do you? I mean, that's like saying that people shouldn't be allowed to cook meals at home, because they might make them poorly and get sick. The homebrew I make is a lot more "healthy" than drinking the rot-gut vodka or dirt cheap beer that you can buy in any liquor store.
If I had to guess I'd say that these lawmakers have absolutely no idea that homebrewing is a hobby. They've never met a homebrewer. They don't know about the competitions, they don't know about the many books written on the topic, they don't know that there are homebrewing shops all over the country (even a couple in Alabama!), they don't know that homebrewing is a passion shared by hundreds of thousands of people in the US. In summary: They have no idea what they are talking about. But they sure seem to enjoy acting like they do.
If you are feeling the rage, as I am now, you need to head over to Alabama Homebrewing's Right to Brew page and see how you can help, or consider joining the AHA if you haven't already. The state of Alabama has to stop treating homebrewers like criminals.
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These excerpts of Alabama lawmakers make me sad. Most of the comments sounded like they would be taken from "guy on street" instead of elected officials. If a person obviously doesn't care enough about a bill to find out about it, how do they get anything done there?
ReplyDeleteI recommend titling the next bill "It's good, vote for it" and then they would pass it, since they don't seem to move past prejudice against the title anyway. Thanks for putting this together guys.
Wow, thought it was Mississippi for a second. Oh wait, it's not legal here either.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Brett. It's astonishing how little research they seem to have done. Some of the things they say, like claiming that the bill allows for 300 gallons of beer or wine instead of 100, are just false. And they rely on unrelated anecdotes for their reasoning. It is astonishing that these are all high-level elected government officials.
ReplyDeleteHere's some good news: I am getting stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama next month.
ReplyDeleteAgreed!!! We in Mississippi need help too!
ReplyDeleteWhat I find interesting is in Alabama the majority of the politicians blocking the bill are Democrats. In Mississippi the majority are Republicans!
Part of what's sad to me is that these "representatives" aren't very representative of much of most Alabamians. Yes, a lot of people here have an accent. Yes, most probably don't know a lot about homebrewing. However, a LOT do know about homebrewing, actively brew, or are just enjoying the benefits of the craft beer renaissance. They aren't bumbling idiots who claim to know what they're talking about and just try to win the "anything dealing with alcohol is bad" vote. Most people that I know in Alabama are a lot more open minded about things.
ReplyDeleteWhen I've talked about my homebrewing to people in Alabama, they've been very interested. Even the ones who aren't sure about it at the beginning come around to it after about 3 minutes. Many bring up some of the concerns in this video, but a simple, logical rebuttal is all that is needed to change their mind.
The problem comes in people voting straight party-line tickets during elections and then not caring what else happens in the legislature. That's the real tragedy of Alabama. Nobody cares anymore, so why should the politicians? They'll just keep spewing out that garbage until someone actually notices that they are idiots.
For the record, I wrote my legislator on this bill. I never received any reply. After all of this, I have no reason to believe that my letter was ever even read by anyone.
Tommy... I wrote to the main blocker of the beer bills in MS... DAILY, for 3 Months. I didn't think they were getting through either, until I was told that the lobby group wasn't happy with me because I was apparently pissing off the representative by BUGGING him so much.
ReplyDeleteAt least I knew they were getting through.
Seems to me Rep. Alvin Holmes is a barely literate, barely articulate blowhard. These gentlemen are ensuring the rest of our nation sees Alabama residents as a group of backwoods inbred hillbillies. I would be ashamed to have my representative in the State Legislature pass judgement on *anything* in this fashion.
ReplyDeleteAnd the statement about the state's biggest moonshiner? Then arrest him if it's a problem. Stop the *1* problem resident of your state. Rather than penalize everyone else.
Wow. That's turd-tapping at its finest right there. Makes me wonder exactly who is filling these guys' pockets and advising them to vote against such things.
I really like the comparison to the street person who huffs shaving cream cans from the dollar store. Hmm. Sounds like first-hand knowledge there...
IT DRANK PRETTY GOOD!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlvin Holmes is my hero
has anyone followed he money. i cases like alabama there usually some lobbyist for big business involved ( BUD or MILLER ) maybe
ReplyDeleteAnd these are people we are supposed to trust to bring our best interests to the table?
ReplyDeleteHow can these people be allowed to vote on something they have no knowledge about? If you opposing argument is asking what it is your arguing about, you need to sit down and shut up.
ReplyDeleteTaggert, you give him far too much credit if you think he's barely literate or barely articulate. That would actually be a huge step up for him. I only listen/read what he says because the sheer stupidity is like a train wreck for my brain, it just can't look away.
ReplyDeleteIgnorant people live in ALABAMA!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe these are elected officials. They are running of on speculation and here say. Not one time did anybody site the Federal Law or what has happened in other states that have legalized homebrewing. They don’t even know the difference between beer and moonshine!
ReplyDeleteHow weird... almost every one of the ignorant response from the opposed had a D next to their name. But they're the party of compassion.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part is "100 gallons of beer... 100 gallons of wine... 100 gallons of Mead... whatever that is!!!"
ReplyDeleteDon't even know what they're voting against.
It's just like that saying about not wanting to see how sausages or politics are made. Listening to this just makes you think, "Good God, this is how bills get passed?"
ReplyDeleteStill, AL will have another shot at this bill, and with a few informed advocates I really do feel that the tides could turn. Just look at how weak and full of holes the arguments of the opposition are.
So I'm a Mississippi Resident with the same problem. So what did I do?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/housebios/hd037.html
Called Rep. Laird and asked him to explain. When he told me it was because of available alcohol, I asked him his opinion of selling everclear to kids, or even in their parents liquor cabinet.
I informed him that if he wanted to "regulate" the homebrewing culture it would cost substantial tax dollars. At this point I went for the compromise. I encouraged him to consider adding to the bill a $50 dollar a year license to brew. This would help keep out the "drunks" as he says while raising tax money for the state.
While this isn't fair at all, us individuals in these radical states must be the compromising party. These guys don't care about what is going to be brewed and how much. All they hear is alcohol without regulation. Let's work together with these guys and get them excited to support a bill that would allow both sides to get what they want.
These guys are clearly in BIG beer's (ABInBev, Miller-Coors, etc) pockets, since they not know the bill and don't seem to care to learn more about the topic at hand. I suspect someone is/was coaching them on how to vote. I'm saddened to hear this clip...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely ridiculous, to not know or be informed about what they are voting on. Then again, another body of legislature too busy to be informed comes to mind - Congress. Health care bill? I didn't read it, but I vote yes - oh and when do we vote our next pay raise?
ReplyDeleteI feel sorry for both AL and MS!
Good folks of Alabama
ReplyDeleteIf these are your "representatives", it is time to get involved in the voting process. All redneck jokes aside, it is no wonder that your state is portrayed as full of ignorant, uneducated, back-asswards, sheep humping, inbred rubes. The very folks that represent you are some of the most mush-mouth, inarticulate, inept, mouth-breathers I have ever heard speak in a public capacity.
I would be ashamed to tell folks that I was from Alabama. They seem more worried about whether or not how they vote on this issue will affect their job in the next election than they are about educating themsleves on what the bill is actually about or listening to their constituants really want.
The analogy Alvin Holmes was trying to make with civil rights towards the end had me in tears. This man can barely speak English properly. No, it is not the accent. I spent plenty of time in the South and can understand 99% of folks from down there. was waiting for him to say (at some point during his diatribe) " Water? Do you mean, like, from the toilet?"
Time to get involved at the polls, good citizens of Alabama.
Quickly.
Listening to this makes me very sad - that these are the attitudes of our supposedly educated elected officials that are meant to represent the interests of the people - they have clearly not bothered to do any kind of fact-finding, research, or in fact have not even clearly read the bill they are voting on!
ReplyDeleteThat this video is out there for the entire world to see now makes me embarrassed to be an American. It is already hard enough for the world to still see our nation as a model for "how to make it work"....now there is audible proof that can be pointed to that it doesn't.
The ignorant comments of my elected officials made me sick and embarrassed.... but a couple of ignorant comments on this blog just pissed me off. I live in Alabama. I am not ashamed of that fact. And I'm fairly certain we do not hold the patent on stupid.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, let me say that there is no excuse for allowing HB266 to fail. Things need to change, but we're doing just fine. So please, take it easy on the pious outrage. Let the home folks take care of the politicians. Free the Hops has helped this state make to make great strides but they're a long way from being done. If you really want to help, give them money. They are fighting some pretty big pocket books. Follow the money people.... it's not that hard. These ignorant [nay] voters are bought and paid for by big beer and big wine; the same lobbying groups that are trying to stifle the craft brewery and small farm winery industry in the state.
The legalization of homebrewing in this state is something that I very much support.... but mainly as a matter of principle. Here's the thing.... I make beer, I make wine,
I even make m-e-a-d, whatever that is. I make all I want. Lots of folks know it; they all are interested and supportive and most of them want me to share it with them. Know what? The Law DOES NOT CARE. I have no knowledge of any homebrewer ever being arrested, fined, or otherwise harassed by law enforcement - guys, it just doesn't happen.
They are afraid of losing tax dollars? Give me a break. I am a homebrewer from Canada and our tax on beer is 52% or more. Homebrewing isn't even on the radar as far as taxes, legalizing or anything like that. It is legal to homebrew, but as far as I know, has never come up for discussion. By the way, we can brew as much beer as we can, just can't sell it.
ReplyDeleteI knew listening to that would make me angry, and it did. Thanks, now I have to join the ABA. I'm more and more convinced that the only way you can really have influence in our country is through lobbying groups rather than voting.
ReplyDeleteBest line:
ReplyDelete"When I drink, I drink Chivas Regal. It's stamped that its good for you."
It does not make me angry, consider the source.
ReplyDeleteReminds of the song by JB Lenoir, "Alabama". He's not all sentimental like Lynrd Skynyrd in his version. You see he was born there.
"Alabama, Alabama, why you wanna be so mean
You got my people behind a barbwire fence,
now you tryin' to take my freedom away from me "
I believe the opening line could have just read..."Now, what is really revealing to me is how totally removed and ignorant these legislators are"
ReplyDeleteMy wife, who is from Mississippi, heard me listening to this and thought it was some kind of comedy act...sadly no.
ReplyDeleteAlabama legislators demonstrate their inability or unwillingness to learn about a new topic (in this case homebrewing) before voting to keep said topic/activity illegal. Clearly there are 48 states worth of empirical evidence indicating that the risks these representatives highlight are not likely to occur.
ReplyDeleteThe comments of these representatives do nothing dissuade existing stereotypes about the deep south.
"...without any licensure. Without any oversight by any government entity."
ReplyDeleteOh, I forgot, we need government to be involved in EVERYTHING.
If you follow some of their "logic", they should also ban vegetable gardens, since there's no regulation guaranteeing that those tomatoes, zucchinis, broccoli, etc., are healthy and good for you. Besides, that would mean the local supermarkets and area farms would be taking it in the neck.
ReplyDeleteBan backyard gardens!
Who on earth (or in Alabama) wouldn't just ignore this law? You can order any equipment or ingredients you need beyond those available at any hardware store. And I doubt that there are any beer police in the state...
ReplyDeleteWho is going to make sure it's healthy? Sounds like the next step for Alabama is a bill that outlaws cooking in the home. We all know that only the fine folks at Hardee's are qualified to prepare healthy food. Mom and dad, in their own shack...home I mean, can't be trusted to prepare healthy foods, beer or otherwise. Good grief!
ReplyDelete