US appeals court declares 158-year-old home distilling ban unconstitutional
4 hours ago
- #Constitutional Law
- #Home Distilling
- #Legal Ruling
- A US appeals court ruled the 1868 federal ban on home distilling unconstitutional, stating it oversteps Congress's taxation power.
- The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the Hobby Distillers Association, arguing home distilling for hobbies or personal use should be legal.
- The ban, aimed at preventing tax evasion, was criticized for potentially reducing tax revenue and setting a dangerous precedent for criminalizing in-home activities.
- Judge Edith Hollan Jones warned the government's logic could allow Congress to criminalize many home-based activities, like remote work, without constitutional limits.
- The decision upholds a 2024 district court ruling and is hailed as a victory for individual liberty, though the government may appeal.