*did search, did not turn up what I was looking for, or any recent threads. I feel like there's a bunch of bad info going around on this topic, and I'm very curious as well. Can anyone here provide an actual statute that says it's illegal to transport beer via a private courier (not USPS), from one private party to another, when no money is changing hands? i.e. The normal type of trading we all do. I feel like this is constantly discussed in the community, but I've never actually seen the law that everyone seems to cite as this being an illegal practice. I realize that it's against the private policies of FedEx/UPS, but I'm looking for purely legal restrictions here. I don't see how this is any different than me putting some beers in my car and driving them over to my friend, and swapping with him for something else. Follow-up question: Can anyone provide a real-life account of someone who has actually been in legal trouble for basic trading? Thanks in advance for any clarification that can be provided!
This thread, regarding Utah: http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...oad-trip-suggested-stops.184498/#post-2483096 It basically boils down to the laws in each state. I have never worried about it, but then again I pack well and don't write "BEER" on the outside of the box, either. For the record, I've even received a trade via USPS. I didn't know it was going to happen, and it wasn't my choice. There wasn't any fallout from it, luckily.
I think it's not so much the trading or even shipping part, but varying state laws about importing beer via any method. http://www.ttb.gov/publications/direct_shipping.shtml Here's info on Ohio. http://www.daytondui.com/blog/2013/04/15/illegal-transportation-of-alcohol-in-ohio-o-r-c-4301-60/ You're most definitely breaking the law by trading to/from Ohio. However, I traded over 40 times from 2008 - 2010 and had once had a bottle break, but the package still made it. I do not think Fedex and UPS care enough to turn over alcohol to authorities. The worst I've heard happen from them is someone getting an exception email and the package never getting to its destination, nor was it returned. Also, a BA user (I want to say SpeedwayJim) said he once had USPS discover a package he sent was alcohol and they just sent it back to him. No cops were involved. I think that's how it went down. I still would not trust them for beer shipping, though.
The Ohio portion is a bit confusing to me. Part of it says that it's not illegal to transport beer in a quantity of less than 288 ounces, another part says transporting beer at all is illegal without a license (wouldn't that make it illegal to drive it home from the store)? I can't tell if it's saying it's illegal to transport it entirely (which wouldn't make sense to me), or that it's illegal to transport for sale without a permit. Hmm...
Yeah, I had a little bit of trouble with it as well. AFAIK most states have some kind of law on the book regarding importing, mostly due to them wanting you to pay taxes on any purchases in-state, or something along those lines. In PA, it is 100% illegal to import a single drop and there are many stories of people getting busted for it, but I think that's more of a thing of the past. You may get in trouble if you're pulled over for something else and they notice your call full of booze, but that's probably about it.
One point to consider is that providing alcohol to minors is a strict liability crime in some states, which means you can be charged even if you were not aware that the recipient was underaged. I'd wager that, in most cases, nobody is checking ID on the other end of the transaction.
Not sure why there'd be any "tax" on traded beer. Assuming (I know, big assumption) the value was similar, the "tax" was paid when each of the traders bought it in the first place. Right? I'm no lawyer, but I play one on internet forums
What if you traded a beer you bought in say Illinois to a guy from Utah who bought his beer in California. In this case, neither state where the beer is being shipped has collected any of the tax.
FedEx guy keeps looking at my boxes when I drop off...asking me about the contents. He knows, but he doesn't KNOW. Anything about shipping flammable materials? I think he may have mentioned that before...
My thoughts exactly. Perhaps the degree of flammability is subjective. In any respect, I keep dropping off my boxes and smiling mischievously...
I got a package from a BA that said it was Hot Sauce Gallons of it! People where I work thought I was crazy when they signed for it LOL.
Shipping flammables would be a concern from a carrier standpoint, unless it's overt I'm sure carriers could care less it's a box and they make money delivering it. That's about it. Box it properly in the right size box and there's no worries, I tend to over insulate, but I believe my boxes would withstand a tumble off a cliff, and silent, hate sloshy boxes. Sometimes on really tough to get brews I double box.
I pack like like you, with the exception that I always double box. It makes me feel better about the shipment. I believe read in one of the threads that you should pack your box to survive a six foot drop (?). I tried it once and all of the beers were fine. That trade partner still doesn't know. I live on the second floor now and I'm tempted to pack a box of BMC just to see if it could survive that drop. I pretty much kill the slosh. Is it posted somewhere that some beers slosh more than others?
