Lazy Drake wrote:It's illegal to brew your own beer??? Guess I have been in violation of the law for a long time. Where did these laws come from we have on the books??
It is illegal, but many do it. It's up to local law enforcement to enforce it, Beer does not fall under the jurisdiction of the ABC. Most local law enforcement has bigger fish to fry (I know several LEO's that homebrew, actually). There are even homebrew competitions. RYP is trying to get the law changed, still an outside shot they might get it done this session even though their bills have died.
MISSISSIPPI CODE of 1972
Miss. Code Ann. § 67-3-15
Permit and/or license required
Any person who shall brew or manufacture or sell any beer or light wine without first having secured a permit and/or license from the commissioner authorizing the brewing or manufacture or sale of such liquor, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($ 1,000.00) or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or both, in the discretion of the court. Any person so convicted may not apply for any permit or license issued by the commissioner until five (5) years have elapsed from the date of such conviction.
I'm not sure about all of the details on all of the alcohol laws - but after the 21st amendment (repealing prohibition) became law in 1933 - states were able to pass their own laws. Mississippi was dry until 1966.
On the surface, this law appears to specifically prevent people from brewing beer for sale without a permit, but since there is no exception for homebrewing - it is effectively outlawed. The purpose of this specific part of the MS code seems to be a taxation issue, but many of Mississippi's alcohol and beer (legally in MS, beer isn't considered an alcoholic beverage - it is not regulated by our ABC) laws are typical of Blue Laws that were passed to regulate immoral behavior.
