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Trump-Appointed Judge Rules 156-Year-Old Ban on At-Home Distilling Unconstitutional, Felony Blocked

Jul 12, 2024, 11:40 AM

A federal judge in Texas has ruled that a 156-year-old ban on at-home distilling is unconstitutional. The decision, made by Trump-appointed US District Judge Mark Pittman, sided with the Hobby Distillers Association and several individuals who challenged the ban in December. The ruling asserts that the longstanding prohibition on home distillation exceeded Congress's taxing power. This historic decision is seen as a significant victory for advocates of legalizing the production of spirits like whiskey and bourbon for personal consumption. The court's decision also blocks the enforcement of the 1868 federal law that prohibited the distillation of spirits in any dwelling house, which had made it a felony to distill spirits at home.