Daily Herald reporter and friend of The Guys, Mike Riopell, wrote a good piece over the weekend updating us on the homebrew legislation introduced in the Illinois House a few months ago by State Representative Keith Farnham (D-Elgin).
The bill would allow homebrewers to showcase their beers at festivals in Illinois.
It’s something they’ve been doing for years until the Illinois Liquor Control Commission began cracking down on the practice – citing a rarely enforced law already on the books.
Farnham said he wouldn’t be calling the bill for a vote during the fall veto session or lame duck session in January. Instead, he’ll try to move the bill after the new General Assembly is sworn in on January 9th. On that date everything essentially resets in Springfield, meaning all legislation that was introduced over the last two years that didn’t become law will have to be drafted and filed again.
Farnham also said the legislation that he filed in late September is not the final product, which is good because – according to Riopell’s article – the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois is currently opposed to it.
“Alcohol is different from all other products,” Olson said. “It’s regulated differently.”
Olson says his group opposes the plan because, among other reasons, the home-brewed beer wouldn’t be subject to health regulations and the home brewers don’t have required insurance to protect from liability if someone gets drunk and later gets in a car accident.
“It’s not root beer,” Olson said. “It’s an intoxicating beverage.”
The ABDI has not shut the door completely on the legislation, Bill Olson did say he would be willing to work towards a compromised bill.