I am a homebrewer and thought any fellow homebrewers in the area need to be aware of this. If you know someone who hmebrews, or a homebrewer yourself, stand up for yourself and your friends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once again the fight for our right to homebrew has returned. This time it is the South Salt Lake City Council trying to outlaw their citizens from homebrewing or winemaking. They are having a meeting Wednesday August 24th to try and pass a law making it illegal to homebrew. It is widely known that President Carter provided for the exemption of homebrew from federal control. Specifically, one may produce 100 gallons of beer each calendar year for each adult in the household, with a maximum production of 200 gallons, without payment of tax. Unfortunately, state laws regarding the control of alcohol supersede the federal laws. You might be surprised to find out who homebrews. It is quite likely you know many brewers already. It could be your doctor, pediatrician, lawyer, policeman, stockbroker or executive director. Homebrewing attracts people from every way of life. Contrary to what the church and their paper would have you believe, homebrewers are not sitting in their homes drinking to excess and passing out just before beating their kids. Homebrewers are almost always gourmets brewing for the same reason that many enjoy cooking. The creation of a delicious product for personal enjoyment. We far too often hear the argument that if you want a drink then you should go to the bar or a club often followed in the same breath with a comment about the need to crack down on drunk driving. Apparently the legislature, and the church, would rather have us stop at a bar on the way home for a few drinks instead of driving safely home and then relaxing with the family while drinking a few homebrews. The other common argument is that minors will find it easier to get a hold of alcohol should homebrewing become legal. If you know anything about homebrewing, you will know that this is ridiculous. To get started homebrewing costs at least $60 dollars and takes several weeks to a month before you have anything to drink. Any minor in search of a drink can do so far easier, and quicker, at any store in town. Not only that but you can't make beer without the whole household become aware of it. Junior simply could not make beer without mom and dad finding out. We urge all South Salt Lake Residents to attend this meeting and make their concerns known. Remember the main arguments against homebrewing is 1) Drinking and Driving. Response: Homebrew is almost always consumed at home and is therefore perhaps the safest way to consume alcohol. 2) Kids could get ahold of it. Response: No kid is going to plunk down $70+ Dollars for all the equipment, ingredients and be patient enough to wait 2 weeks for the product. Remember, all homebrew has a built in 2 week waiting period. If only bottles of thunderbird had the same. The meeting will be held at: The South Salt Lake City Council Building 220 E. Morrison Ave. (2430 S.) Main Reception Phone: (801) 483-6000 City Council Phone: (801) 483-6027 Please attend the meeting or at least call the Salt Lake City Council and help educate them on how safe homebrewing really is. Mark Alston The Beer Nut 1200 S. State Street Salt Lake City, UT 84111 sales@beernut.com
As one of our founding fathers said, beer is living proof that god loves us and wants to see us happy.
I don't know what exactly happened, but on the news they said that South Salt Lake has thrown out the proposal. Dead issue......thank God.