High Liquor Taxes and a Home Distillation Ban Guarantee a Thriving Booze Black Market
High liquor taxes and a ban on home distillation have led to a thriving black market for alcohol in the United States. Innovative entrepreneurs are illegally manufacturing and transporting spirits to evade these taxes. This ongoing cat-and-mouse game has historical roots and continues to inspire smuggling tactics.
- ▪A Florida man was arrested in Alabama for transporting 81 gallons of moonshine.
- ▪High taxes on distilled spirits drive illegal manufacturing and smuggling.
- ▪The ban on home distillation is justified by authorities to collect taxes.
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Liquor High Liquor Taxes and a Home Distillation Ban Guarantee a Thriving Booze Black Market The courts have an opportunity to legalize small-scale distillation, but taxes remain a problem. J.D. Tuccille | 5.27.2026 7:00 AM Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/05/home-distiller-moonshine-still-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="A man operates a hand-crank moonshine still in the woods." alt="A man operates a hand-crank moonshine still in the woods.
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