FOOD NEWS
Sorry, But Your Store-Bought Moonshine Isn't Real
BY BRIAN UDALL
The term moonshine specifically applies to alcohol that is made illegally. While commercial moonshine exists, it's a contradiction in terms to produce illegal alcohol legally.
It makes sense that businesses would find a way to turn a profit on this alcoholic underdog, but they are still calling it moonshine, which is a controversial technicality.
Even though moonshine is legal now, there is a void of regulatory clarity around the term. Illegal alcohol can refer to anything so long as it's outside the reach of the law.
As far as we can tell, anyone can call their product moonshine with zero repercussions. Marketing tactics that aim to capitalize on moonshine culture are clearly at play.
True moonshine symbolizes defiance whereas legal moonshine is successful, compliant industries LARPing as bad boy outlaws.