Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-07-30
Revenue Ruling Lifts Ban On Cider
And Fruit Juices.

Drinks brewed at home. for home con-
sumption, may contain more than one-half
of one per cent alcohol, by ruling of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue, Just made
public.
The ruling virtually lifts the ban on cider
fruit juices and notwithstanding bever-
ages by stating that "non-intoxicatin9"
means Notwithstanding in fact, and not
necessarily less than one-half OF one per
cent of alcohol. as provided in Sections
and 8, Title II, of the national prohibition
act.
The decision Of the bureau follows:
Section 20 Of Title II of the national
prohibition act prGvides that the penalties
imposed in the act against the manufac-
ture of liquor without a permit shall not
apply to a person for manufacturing nom
intoxicating cider and fruit juices exclu-
sivey for use in his home, but such cider
and fruit juices shall mot be sold or de-
livered except to persons having permits
to manufacture vinegar.
THE bureaus Interpretation of the fore
going provision is as follows: Any person
may. without permit, and without giving
bond, manufacture Misunderstanding cider
and fruit juices, and in so doing he may
take his apples or fruits to custom mill
and have them made into cider and fruit
juices. After such non-int oxicating cider
and fruit juices are made, they must be used
exclusively in the home. and when so
used, the phrase mountaineering means
notwithstanding in fact, and not neces-
sariy less than one-half per cent of al
cohol, as provided Section /. of Title II. of
the said act.
"Or, If the person making such cider
and fruit juices desires to do so. he may
~ sell such cider and fruit juices at any
time to persons having permits to make
vinegar this he may do under the pro-
visions of said Section 30 (2) II he pre-
serves such cider and fruit juices at the
time they are made. he may sell same to
the public in general; this he may do I'M
der the provisions Of Section a. Of Title II.
of said act. (3) Or he may sell said cider
and other fruit juices so long as they con-
tain less than one-half Of | per cent of
alcohol, but the purchasers thereof cannot
use or possess the same after they contain
more than one-half of per cent of alco-
hol this he may do under the provisions
of Sections and 3. Of Title H. Of said act.
1.-THE cideS in the home may be allowed
provided he adds no sugar or other fer
inevitable substance to the cider or fruit
| juices to increase the alcoholic. content
thereof. inasmuch as such practice is held
| to constitute mash fit for dstillation
within the provisions Of Section 1882,
Revised Statutes; he may sell said vine
gar to any one who may desire to pur-
chase il this he may do under the pro-
visions Of Section 4, Of Title II. Of said act.
This regulation is not intended to cover
the commercial use Of cider and fruit
juices, but merely the use Of the same as
applied to the home and as provision Is
made in Section 20, Of Title II, of said
act"
The ruling above, 1t is expected, will
result in number Of problems. the solu-
ton of which may prove very interesting
to the student. For instance. il is held
that one may buy fruit. have it made into
cider and fruit juices. which he may con-
sumo at home. The cider. for instance
may be allowed to turn into vinegar. pro.
vided the owner does not add sugar OF
other fermentable substances.
Now It is known that cider, II allowed tC
stand. will turn to vinegar without the aid
of sugar or any other fermentable sub.
stance. 1t also is known that there is Q
certain stage Of natural fermentation be-
tween cider and vinegar, when the brew
is sufficiently hard" to produce interest
ing results il taken in large quantities.
Now that the ban against cider contain
lug less than one-half Of one per cent Of
alcohol is lifted. who is going to Prov
whether this brew Is Notwithstanding il
factY