Mead is a type of alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey with water and sometimes with various fruits, such as spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content of mead ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 18%. One significant characteristic of mead is that a large part of the fermentable sugar is derived from honey. Mead could be still, carbonated, or naturally sparkling; dry, semi-sweet, or sweet.
In the brewing industry, homebrewing is a term for the brewing of beer, mead, and ciders on a small scale for personal, non-commercial purposes. If you are a beginner in homebrewing and thinking of starting your production of alcoholic beverages, you can purchase supplies, such as kits and fermentation tanks online. The production of mead and other alcoholic drinks on a domestic level has existed for thousands of years.
There are several reasons why people decide to brew their beer. Some of them try to avoid a higher cost of buying commercially equivalent beverages. Brewing domestically also gives them the freedom to create their recipes based on their preference, make drinks unavailable on the open market, or drinks that may contain fewer calories or less or more alcohol.
Every country has its regulations when it comes to the production of mead and other alcoholic beverages on either domestic level or commercial purposes. . So, before you go into any of them, ensure you meet those requirements, so you don’t have issues with constituted authorities. For example, in the United States, you need a permit for distilling spirits such as moonshine.
If you stay in the United States, it is legal to make mead at home. Mead is not distilled, so it is not subject to the federal laws on distilled spirits. It is only regulated by state law. The homebrewing of non-distilled alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, mead, etc.) is very legal in many places in the US. You will find a booming industry and network of retailers. You can also go to the homebrew shop down the block and buy a kit that comes with everything you need to make a gallon of mead or beer in the US. Although in places like Northern Alaska, you won’t be allowed to purchase a lot for brewing beer at home. But in the US, anyone who is of age to consume alcohol is also permitted by law to make their consumption. There are caveats to this, however. Non-licensed home-brewers are legally limited to producing 200 gallons of finished product per year and may not sell their alcohol for cash or trade by barter it for goods or services. But you are free to gift a bottle to someone or share it with friends. Until 2013, Alabama and Mississippi were the only states with laws prohibiting the homebrewing of beer. But in 2013, they both legalized homebrewing in their 2013 legislative sessions. Although all state governments have legalized homebrewing, some states retain local options that allow local governments to make homebrewing illegal under municipal law. Alaska is one of such states where the local option is currently exercised.
Many states allow the homebrewing of 100 US gallons (380 l) of beer per adult (of 21 years or older) per year and up to a maximum of 200 US gallons (760 l) per household annually when two or more adults are residing in the home. Because the federal government taxes alcohol through excise taxes, homebrewers cannot sell any beer they brew. They are regulated at the National level under USC Title 26 subtitle E Ch51. Production of distilled alcohol for consumption carries an excise tax and many other requirements that must be met for legal production to take place. Owning or operating a distillation apparatus without filing the proper paperwork and paying the taxes attracts federal criminal penalties.
It is also legal for you to make mead at home in the UK, but if you sell it to the public, you need a personal license and premises license. If you sell to businesses, you will need to register with AWRS (alcohol wholesalers registration scheme). If you are making the mead, you will need a wine producer’s license, food standards agency registration, and insurance. You will also be required to register as a company (ideally private limited). If you want to sell mead legally in the UK, you must be ready to pay any taxes.
In Australia, it is legal for homebrewers to produce mead and wine for personal use, but it is illegal to distill alcohol (for example, spirits) without an excise manufacturer license. It would help if you also had permission from the Australian Taxation Office to own, possess, dispose of, buy, sell, import, or manufacture a still of over 5 liters capacity, whether it is being used to produce alcohol or not.
In Canada, it is legal to make mead in many Canadian provinces. Liquor laws are regulated provincially, while the federal government has laws about taxation and importation of beer, wine, and other liquors. If you have a license, you can distill with a permit granted by the (provincial) government.
In the Czech Republic, you can legally brew 2000 liters per household per year of beer for personal use, including notification of the customs office. You are also free to brew 2000 liters of wine per household per year. Each home can distill fermented fruit only, up to 30 liters per year, in a local distillery, for personal use.
Also, in Denmark, there is no limit per household per year of beer, as long as it is for personal consumption. But distillation licenses are not available for individuals.
It is illegal to brew mead in the Faroe Islands. In Finland, it is legal to homebrew mead for personal use only, and it is unlawful for individuals to distill spirits. Only a commercial manufacturer can apply for a manufacturing permit. In Eritrea and Ethiopia, it is legal to homebrew mead.
In Sweden, it is legal to make mead for personal use only but not for sale. In Taiwan, it is legal to homebrew for personal use only and not for sale. It is legal to make mead in your home in Spain and Sudan.
You are only permitted to homebrew your mead in Turkey for only 350 liters.
It is illegal to homebrew mead and to distill spirits in Ukraine.
Conclusion
It is legal for you to make mead in your home in many countries. But if it is illegal in your country, ensure you avoid making it, so you don’t get caught.
If you want to brew mead for commercial purposes, get all the required documents and licenses ready to authorize your operation. If you are also supposed to pay taxes, pay them so you will operate freely.