JOHNSON COUNTY (1080 KRLD)- A Johnson County resident is learning the hard way that you cannot distill your own alcohol at home.
Acting on an anonymous tip, agents with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission seized illegal distillation equipment at a home in Johnson County.
"It is obviously illegal to manufacture moonshine or illegal alcohol at one's home," says Chris Porter, TABC spokesman. "However, the law also states that it's illegal to actually own or possess distillation equipment that does not have a TABC permit."
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The rules for making beer or wine at home are a little more permissive.
"State law does allow residents to rue either wine or beer up to ... 200 gallons a year for their own personal use," says Porter.
It's unknown what alcoholic beverage, if any, that the homeowner was using the still for.
"We have not yet seized any illegal alcohol, so there's none of that in possession," Porter says. "We did not find alcohol on the premises at the time but the seizure."
According to a TABC news release, the homeowner admitted to owning the equipment.
"This operation exemplifies TABC's commitment to properly enforcing the law and ensuring the safety and integrity of the alcoholic beverage industry in Texas," says Thomas Graham, TABC executive director. "Not only does illicit alcohol risk the health and safety of anyone who consumes it, but it also undermines the efforts of law-abiding alcohol manufacturers, distributors and retailers who continue to do the right thing when operating their businesses."
Possession of illicit distillation equipment is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1000.
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