A bad knee is preventing me from riding uni- and tricycles in the foreseeable future. To compensate for the lack of income, I am thinking to grow my rooftop backyard moonshine operation into a real business. I have a decent product portfolio including I Can’t Believe It’s Not Methanol Vodka, Rooftop Gin, Bathtub Clown Gin, Rooftop Bathtub Clown Gin, and I wish it were Whiskey, that I plan to expand with Absinthe and Mango Schnaps. I have shared these products with me mates over the last few years and none of them has gone blind.
My question is: What are the regulations regarding setting up a distillery? I understand that there are alcohol manufacturing and labeling regulations. Any land use restrictions? (e.g. only on industrial land, not near a school, etc.) Do I have to get a permit from the fire bureau?
If yore asking online, forget it. You need a factory permit, lots of FDA regulations. Because you are going to be in direct competition with the government (TTL) and the product is both a health hazard and a safety hazard on the manufacturing side, you will absolutely be inspected now a days. If you have at least 7 or 8 million to blow setting up, go for it. Otherwise, there is a reason most alcohol you see is OEM.
As well side note. It would be far easier to make it abroad and import it. The import duty/taxes work out way less than setup here unless yor sxale is massive, like Tsingtao.