Page "Homebrewing" Paragraph 10

In 1920, the United States outlawed the manufacture and consumption of alcoholic beverages " for beverage purposes.

" As a result of Prohibition, breweries, vineyards, and distilleries across the United States were closed down or placed into service making malt for non-alcoholic purposes.

During prohibition, home wine-making was treated more leniently as the result of a 1920 IRS ruling that loosened standards for allowable alcohol content for wine and cider but not for beer.

Homebrewing of beer having an alcohol content higher than 0. 5 % remained illegal until 1978 when Congress passed a bill repealing Federal restrictions and excise taxes on the homebrewing of small amounts of beer and wine.

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, signed the bill, H. R.

1337, into law in October 1978 ; however, the bill left individual states free to pass their own laws limiting production.