Heres a Warning!!!!

[Mike Neilson]

I think the message is dont do it!!!!!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2397406/Home-brew-raid-follow...

[MrC]

Obviously selling beer to teenagers (<18) is bad idea but what are the actual laws around selling beer or being paid to brew beer?

Can a brewery sell beer at the cellar door without a licence like a winery?

Is it OK for someone to pay me to brew a batch of beer for them? I've been asked a couple of times recently but turned them down due to time constraints & laziness.

[Stu McKinlay]

Anyone selling alcohol to a member of the public requires a licence. I'd be disgusted if winery cellar doors didn't because I'm sure that brewery bottle stores do.

I can sell Yeastie Boys, sans licence, to a bar because they have one (and it is only them dealing with public sales). This is outside the sale of liquor act.

Brewing beer for someone else is probably quite a grey area, technically, but I'm sure theyd put you in the slammer for it. Why would anyone want to do this anyway? For me to brew 40L of homebrew for someone, I'd be charging them well over what it costs to buy a 50L keg of commercialy made beer... simple economies of scale.

[Stu McKinlay]

Just read the article... there's probably the odd brewer on these forums that'd look suspicious if the police stormed their cellar/garage... I know I've had close to a hundred litres in 'stock' at times. And I probably verged on braking the law when I served a few corny kegs at a friends wedding.

[Greig McGill]

I've done that also. If that's a crime, then the law is an ass.

[James P]

In my opinion the reality is if you sell to minors then I expect that you would be arrested and probably get more than a slap on the wrist.

Any beer I have supplied in my kegs for parties has been brewed by the person holding the party. Fortunately or maybe unfortunately the current ability to brew beer is for personal consumption. Technically those in your house, or staying at the premise.. but the law is an arse as you have said Greig. Working and managing bars has lead me to that thought many a time, but the law is there to protect the stupid people and the governments ability to collect revenue.

[MrC]

"Technically those in your house, or staying at the premise"

Does that mean that the case swaps and the NHC are breaking the law?

[Stu McKinlay]

No, the law is not an ass... it is just difficult to define.
We'd both be fine.
Just like the father who I saw dragging his son to a car yesterday. Technically there is a crime in it... but who is going to push it?

[Greig McGill]

Some busybody always will in my experience.

[James P]

Politicians and analysts make laws to deal with the extremes, not the everyday situations. The anti-smacking law is an example. It was introduced to punish those that stick their kids in dryers, or on washing lines.... and the father who smacks his child's bottom for running out on to the road... is that difficult to define? Laws need to be a little fluid to allow prosecution of cases that technically aren't illegal, but may have some form of immorality involved.

There is nothing in the Sale of Liquor Act that covers home brew specifically, however as it is alcohol then those that sell or supply liquor must be licensed.