Is it legal or not

[samleeds]

Im sorry if this has been asked and answered but I cant find any info, sooooo.

Ive searched and searched and found nothing concrete. Plenty of ''yes its illegal'', BUT then..... ah buts and well maybe,s if you and you need a licence but you cant get one and nobody is really bothered, but you can get done and you could go to prison or maybe they wont be interested in you as a small distiller, but its illegal, bla bla bla.

My eyes are bleeding with all the reading so.......can someone please put it into a digested format please......Can I get done for doing it at home if im not selling it to anyone. Plus who covers it, has anyone been done and can a home distiller get a licence if they are not a business.

[Mash]

"Can I get done for doing it at home if im not selling it to anyone. "

Yes.

We take the view that people will do it anyway, so we are here to help you stay safe.

[BlindXX]

"Can I get done for doing it at home if im not selling it to anyone. "

Yes.

We take the view that people will do it anyway, so we are here to help you stay safe.

Yup, bang on.
For definite it's illegal without a licence in the UK. Don't get confused with answers from foreign forums/members you'll find on the net (such as New Zealand) where it is legal.

[myles]

Even if you only distill to drink yourself it is classed as tax evasion.
However, a water purifier or an essential oil still are legal - but hard to prove as an excuse.
Keep under the radar and do not sell.

[gaza the instructor]

So we can go back to our old moto.
"Quality not quantity"

[Mash]

So we can go back to our old moto.
"Quality not quantity"

REALLY!! - I have just read your other post you know you seem to have cracked both side of that equation

[samleeds]

If its legal to make bio fuel, im gonna mark all my demijons as bio fuel so if I get raided i can tell them its for my motorhome heater which uses bio fuel or diesel. lol

[myles]

Yes it is legal to make biofuel but above a certain annual volume you have to declare it so they can give you a tax bill!!!!

[samleeds]

Ive got 6 gallons of gin and 5 gallons of neutral all now labelled biofuel, lol. My mate at my local homebrew store just told me that the number of stills sold in the uk numbers thousands and he has never heard of any true home distiller getting done. Firstly it isnt up to the HMRC to check out stills,or even illegal moonshiners, their job is economically orientated to do with tax evasion.

He also said that most of his customers buy a cheap chinese heater for the garage but never use it so if they get done, the biofuel is for the heater. Whether it flies, is yet another thing, but if you google it, a gang of Polish vodka makers were caught by the fire brigade after they blew up a mix and the authorities found thousands of litres of cheap vodka but because they didnt sell any of it, the police couldnt prove anything and the trading standards and hmrc were powerless and they got fined for distilling without a licence but it wasnt that much according to the net.

Im not going big and this weekend my kids get my stock to store in their garages. lol.

[Mash]

..My mate at my local homebrew store just told me ..

So he is not biased then LOL

[samleeds]

..My mate at my local homebrew store just told me ..

So he is not biased then LOL

He probably is but he is also better placed to make informed decisions regarding the topic we discussed, plus he only works for a wage so he hasnt got a vested interest in selling loads of stuff. Hes not likely to get fired as his wifes parents own the shop and he is also a pretty decent bloke as well. I taught him how to play golf and I reckon hes pretty honest.

[phantom]

While it's legal to make bio-fuels, you are also supposed to register for that as you're "supposed" to pay a 10p per litre produced tax levy on it (not to completely replace the excise duty and VAT, but to contribute).

So unless you're registered, you can still get caught not paying the levy..........

[gaza the instructor]

Mash I am bored and I need a plan. Anyone want to buy a Porsche 911
before I kill myself? I downloaded this acceleration app on the phone.
(well my son did).And I am trying to get 0to 60 in under 3 secs. So far
I have 3.06 secs. To preserve car mind and Driving License I am moving
into the brew shed, hence Mash laughing at Quality not Quantity joke.

[samleeds]

My mate has a Cuprinol brown Porche 011, he paid 2 Irish guys to paint the porch.

[gaza the instructor]

They wern't the two gay Irish guys were they, Patrick Fitzjohn and John Fitzpatrick.
Or the two Spanish Firemen, Hose A and Hose B .
Or the Spanish Fiddler .. Elbow.

[samleeds]

No it was the Scottish pair Ben doon and Phil McCafferty

[Easydrinker]

Im sorry if this has been asked and answered but I cant find any info, sooooo.

Ive searched and searched and found nothing concrete. Plenty of ''yes its illegal'', BUT then..... ah buts and well maybe,s if you and you need a licence but you cant get one and nobody is really bothered, but you can get done and you could go to prison or maybe they wont be interested in you as a small distiller, but its illegal, bla bla bla.

My eyes are bleeding with all the reading so.......can someone please put it into a digested format please......Can I get done for doing it at home if im not selling it to anyone. Plus who covers it, has anyone been done and can a home distiller get a licence if they are not a business.

To come back on topic.
It is against the law.
There are few instances of actions being brought against offenders in the UK, UNLESS it is connected to large scale sale, and usually counterfeiting sale operations.
Authorities must be aware that it is ongoing, but seem to, so far, seem to choose to do nothing.
This may change.
The advise remains, don't tell and don't sell.

Robert.

[Moss]

Speaking from personal experience:

The Rozzers get pretty shitty if your alcoholic piece of sh1t and heavily in debt to you neighbour mentions to them that you sell the odd tot or 200.
The local authority housing department have a bit of a downer on it too.

It really is not worth all the fuss.