Good news guys about the Homebrew laws in NB

[Richard]

I'm pretty sure a demonstration would be legal... I suspect you'd have to pretend to pitch the yeast rather than actually do so. There's no booze without yeast.

The issue is more with the "demonstration" of the end-result.

[Dave Savoie]

we could just ask the licensing lady that would be at the meeting if something like this is even possible because if we don't bring something like this up now we may never get a chance to again and the worst thing they can so is hell no  It took me over a year with more than 200 emails to all MLA's in the province to even get to this point. because really the change in the law to allow us to transport the beer is small and it doesn't help to adjust the image of home brew at all that was kind of my goal to begin with I want to be able to show people the art of craft brewing change peoples minds of what craft beer really is a few of my friends here at work have tasted just one mouthful of a beer I brewed at work and now when they go to the beer store they don't always go for bud anymore they pick up singles of something they have never tried that to me is a win so if we are able to provide a sample of a recipe that we are brewing at a demonstration and the people say wow that is really good we just opened their eyes

they have those huge craft brew events in Halifax where the public is allowed to sample all the craft brews we basically brew the same way as the microbreweries but on a much smaller scale and as it stands temp liquor licenses are available for weddings things of that nature...... but again I may be dreaming to big

[Shawn]

I agree with you - I think getting more people into craft beer should really be the target (for the most part) of a homebrew club. And I don't think there's any harm in dreaming big, at all.

I just think that maybe things need to be straightened out with this club a little more first, don't you agree? Right now there's not a lot of members, let alone paying members (from what I understand from some of the forum posts), so of course everything is a little haphazard.

I guess I'm just saying that before anything regarding the outside-FCBA world is seriously considered, maybe we need to clarify exactly what we want to accomplish among the members here, and how it benefits to BECOME a member of the FCBA.

[Richard]

Aye; need to sort out the by-laws and have some kind of Annual General Meeting. The focus and direction is something that needs to be determined via democracy, if the association is to have any value at all.

By brewers, for brewers.

[Thomas]

I am pretty sure public brew demonstrations are fine. The guys at the Picaroons brewtique told me that they will start brewing authentic english ales in February, and it will be an open demonstration of the process, free for the public to attend. At this time I can't confirm that I will be albe to make it to the meeting next week. However, if there is nothing important happening in the lab I may be able to sneek out for an hour to attend.
When I think of the laws we are trying to change here, I feel it is important to understand where they came from. The majority of liquor laws still in place are a hold over from the prohibition era. These laws were often enacted by hard liner christians who though it was ungodly to consume alcohol, and that beer was the drink of the devil. However, before prohibition people had enough common sense to realize beer is something to be enjoyed, and even further that it was considered a godly drink (IE, monks calling the yeast "god is good" when pitching it). With that in mind, I consider most of todays liquor laws to be horribly antiquated, and no longer reflect the opinions of the times. Furthermore, they reflect the narrow minded ideals of christian extremists who used cult like techniques to sway the minds of the public. As a biologist, I find this to be one more addition to the long list of examples of why the "god delusion" is more harmful then helpful.
Sorry for the long rant, and I dont mean to offend anyones religious views on here, but this is the view I personally hold on the subject and I feel quite strongly about it.

[Hawoh]

I think there are several good ideas/visions being discussed here, but I'd have to fall on the "lets not get ahead of ourselves" side.  We should have our house in order before we get out in the public pawning our wares and pushing for legislation changes.

[Dave Savoie]

I Agree going to focus on just being able to Gift and transport............

[Hawoh]

I Agree going to focus on just being able to Gift and transport............

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we change what we're looking for here. The ideas are fine,... but rather that we don't stick our necks out until we're adequately prepared. Getting a shot to present your case for changes in front of this director probably isn't an opportunity that is going to happen on a whim every time we'd like to raise some topics. Going in on short notice leaves little lead time to present a well constructed case.

Going in you're going to want to be armed well... things like:
- Know the existing legislation and interpretations of of it
- Find/bring existing examples of legislations from other jurisdictions across Canada or US that enable the types of changes we're thinking of
- Have drafts/examples of how you would have the legislation updated/worded
- Be your own devil's advocate, have a list of pros/cons/concerns/issues for anything you propose. Poke holes in your proposals before someone else does.
- Have a prepared list of questions you'll want to know. IE: how does the process proceed, potential time frames, who are the points of contact, etc..
- Prepare a clear concise document or presentation of your case/ideas that you can walk through and leave with them

[Dave Savoie]

Yes all of this is great Howah Im hoping to sit down with Kyle and work up a game plan

[Kyle]

Maybe we should be thinking baby-steps, here.

I think this is a good way to go about it. Now, Dave, you are the one who got the access, so you are the lead on this, but I think if we get too bogged down with possibilities and the big picture that the very specific point -- transportation; will be lost in the haze.

I think we should present our wishes for the transportation issue as the central one, but then we could go into other cool stuff that could evolve from the relaxing of the transportation rule.

[Kyle]

Great stuff Hawoh,

Perhaps our "suggested wording" should be that of the existing legislation in another province: instant, proven credibility

[Dave Savoie]

I think we need to ensure that the transportation issue is resolved first and as far as events we can hold them on a private property and everything should be fine. !!!!

[Kyle]

Lobbying 101 (topic adaptation needed):

http://ontariospca.ca/1-10tipslobby.shtml

[Dave Savoie]

Alberta - Section 83 of the Gaming and Liquor Act
Posted by David Savoie on February 18, 2010 at 6:55 PM    Comments comments (0)

Mr. Savoie, your email inquiry has been forwarded to me for a reply.


Section 83 of the Gaming and Liquor Act (Alberta) states "a common carrier or other person may, in accordance with this Act, transport liquor from a place where liquor is lawfully located to another place where liquor may be lawfully located."  Homemade liquor may be lawfully located in a residence, so therefore in Alberta, there is no problem with home brewers transporting their product to another residence.  The Gaming and Liquor Act may be accessed at the following link:

http://aglc.ca/pdf/legislation/GLA_Act.pdf

 

These products however, cannot be transported to a sampling/competition as homemade liquor cannot be served at any licensed function.   This is an Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) policy that is located in Section 10.1.3 of the Licensee Handbook.  A link to this handbook is as followssad

 

http://aglc.ca/pdf/handbooks/liquor_lic ... ndbook.pdf

[Dave Savoie]

The Liquor Control Act and Regulations of Manitoba
Posted by David Savoie on February 19, 2010 at 4:06 PM    Comments comments (0)

From: Jim Haslund [mailto:JHaslund@mlcc.mb.ca]

Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 10:59 AM

To: David Savoie

Cc: Contact


Subject: RE: Liquor Act and Regulations


You cannot distil liquor in the province of Manitoba. This is under the Custom and Excise act of Canada. You can gain access to this act on line. In Manitoba you can ferment and brew for personal consumption and transport the product from one residence to another. This product cannot be in any licensed premises permit function or public area. You can access this information on line under The Liquor Control Act and Regulations.


Jim Haslund

Supervisor Inspection Services