4 ms·

There are indeed laws relating to proper labeling of food and alcohol that you sell. They're not selling it. There are indeed laws that prohibit people who ma

by pdx 13y ago

There are indeed laws relating to proper labeling of food and alcohol that you sell. They're not selling it. There are indeed laws that prohibit people who manufacture alcohol from also being the ones who sell it to consumers. They're not selling it. You can label things any damn way you want to label them, if you're not selling them. If you want to go home tonight and print out a label that says "Vinegar", and paste it on your Vodka bottle, I promise you won't be breaking any laws. If you then give that Vodka to your friend, you're still not breaking any laws, provided your friend is an adult. The level of hysterical paranoia by other posters in this thread is confusing.

Breefield 13y ago
I agree, there are so many responses in this thread that make me feel like the blog post didn't adequately convey that the vodka was being given away—and not being resold by anyone at any point. It was a gift to event hosts who were throwing private events.
- testing12341234 13y ago
  It wasn't being given away. It was being bartered/traded. "in exchange for hosting a party on Speakeasy for our launch weekend"
gotrecruit 13y ago
i think the fact that they're using it in a commercial manner, even if they're not strictly selling it, would at least raise some eyebrows at the ATF. imagine if someone dies from the vodka. who's liable for it?
mertd 13y ago
Can I sell cans of Redbull for $20 and give "Vineger" for free as a bonus sampler?
CaveTech 13y ago
But the venues receiving the vodka are most definitely selling it, proven by the fact that it ended up included in bottle service. If it was a donation to an individual, you could get away with ignoring the rules, but they're giving vodka away to businesses, knowing that the business likely intends on selling it.
- pdx 13y ago
  I think it's OK. There's already a ton of businesses who sell custom wine labels for you to use to relabel your own wine. The main customers of these companies are businesses who use them as gifts to their customers, as a form of marketing/advertising.
  - rhizome 13y ago
    Crucial distinction: "gifts."
  - epochwolf 13y ago
    Wine is regulated differently.
- kevinbracken 13y ago
  I would like to reiterate that these were all house and loft parties - our events product was all about underground events.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
dragonwriter 13y ago
> There are indeed laws relating to proper labeling of food and alcohol that you sell. They're not selling it. > There are indeed laws that prohibit people who manufacture alcohol from also being the ones who sell it to consumers. They're not selling it. They are offering it "in exchange for hosting a party on Speakeasy". Offering a product as in-kind exchange for something else of value very often is legally considered "selling" the product. There are also laws prohibiting bottling alcohol by anyone other than the (properly licensed) manufacturer of the alcohol without a permit, and they were bottling it (and weren't the manufacturer).
refurb 13y ago
If we ignore the fact that they are "trading in-kind" the vodka for services, they are still distributing it. There are a multitude of laws governing alcohol. I had a friend host a party with a cover. He was giving away the alcohol. The local alcohol control board showed up and listed the numerous laws he was violating. Don't forget that anyone who distributes alcohol has to be permitted. They need to comply with laws that govern access to the underaged, tracking of alcohol taxes, etc. Here is an example from Missouri law: When is a liquor license required? It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute or sell intoxicating liquor without a state license issued by the state supervisor of the Division Alcohol and Tobacco Control. However, Section 311.055 is an exception, which allows 200 gallons to be manufactured per household, per calendar year if there are two or more persons over 21 years of age in the household, or 100 gallons per calendar year if there is one person over the age of 21 in the household. The products manufactured under the Section 311.055 exception are only for personal and family use.
- jevinskie 13y ago
  Does that permit private distilling? I thought having a still with intent was still illegal throughout the US.
  - refurb 13y ago
    Depends on the state. Some allow it, some don't.
  - gallerytungsten 13y ago
    Missouri is the only state with the type of exception cited. Even so, Federal law makes home distilling illegal in all states. http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml#s7 http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml#s7

by pdx 13y ago

Breefield 13y ago

I agree, there are so many responses in this thread that make me feel like the blog post didn't adequately convey that the vodka was being given away—and not being resold by anyone at any point. It was a gift to event hosts who were throwing private events.

testing12341234 13y ago
It wasn't being given away. It was being bartered/traded. "in exchange for hosting a party on Speakeasy for our launch weekend"

gotrecruit 13y ago

i think the fact that they're using it in a commercial manner, even if they're not strictly selling it, would at least raise some eyebrows at the ATF. imagine if someone dies from the vodka. who's liable for it?

mertd 13y ago

Can I sell cans of Redbull for $20 and give "Vineger" for free as a bonus sampler?

CaveTech 13y ago

But the venues receiving the vodka are most definitely selling it, proven by the fact that it ended up included in bottle service. If it was a donation to an individual, you could get away with ignoring the rules, but they're giving vodka away to businesses, knowing that the business likely intends on selling it.

pdx 13y ago
I think it's OK. There's already a ton of businesses who sell custom wine labels for you to use to relabel your own wine. The main customers of these companies are businesses who use them as gifts to their customers, as a form of marketing/advertising.
- rhizome 13y ago
  Crucial distinction: "gifts."
- epochwolf 13y ago
  Wine is regulated differently.
kevinbracken 13y ago
I would like to reiterate that these were all house and loft parties - our events product was all about underground events.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

dragonwriter 13y ago

> There are indeed laws relating to proper labeling of food and alcohol that you sell. They're not selling it. > There are indeed laws that prohibit people who manufacture alcohol from also being the ones who sell it to consumers. They're not selling it. They are offering it "in exchange for hosting a party on Speakeasy". Offering a product as in-kind exchange for something else of value very often is legally considered "selling" the product. There are also laws prohibiting bottling alcohol by anyone other than the (properly licensed) manufacturer of the alcohol without a permit, and they were bottling it (and weren't the manufacturer).

refurb 13y ago

If we ignore the fact that they are "trading in-kind" the vodka for services, they are still distributing it. There are a multitude of laws governing alcohol. I had a friend host a party with a cover. He was giving away the alcohol. The local alcohol control board showed up and listed the numerous laws he was violating. Don't forget that anyone who distributes alcohol has to be permitted. They need to comply with laws that govern access to the underaged, tracking of alcohol taxes, etc. Here is an example from Missouri law: When is a liquor license required? It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute or sell intoxicating liquor without a state license issued by the state supervisor of the Division Alcohol and Tobacco Control. However, Section 311.055 is an exception, which allows 200 gallons to be manufactured per household, per calendar year if there are two or more persons over 21 years of age in the household, or 100 gallons per calendar year if there is one person over the age of 21 in the household. The products manufactured under the Section 311.055 exception are only for personal and family use.

jevinskie 13y ago
Does that permit private distilling? I thought having a still with intent was still illegal throughout the US.
- refurb 13y ago
  Depends on the state. Some allow it, some don't.
- gallerytungsten 13y ago
  Missouri is the only state with the type of exception cited. Even so, Federal law makes home distilling illegal in all states. http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml#s7 http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml#s7