Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

How is Poitín illegal?

  • 20-01-2013 12:59AM
    #1
    dasdog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭


    ...at what % does alcoholic drink become criminal?


«134

Comments

  • #2
    Wacker The Attacker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭Wacker The Attacker


    When it turns your sh1t black


  • #3
    admiralofthefleet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    because its horrible?


  • #4
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    dasdog wrote: »
    ...at what % does alcoholic drink become criminal?

    Distilling without a license is illegal.


  • #5
    Herb Powell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭Herb Powell


    Because you need a licence to distill. It's nothing to do with % ABV


  • #6
    galwayrush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,815 ✭✭✭✭galwayrush


    No control over it's production, widely varied proof.
    Plus no VAT...


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Get Real
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 947 ✭✭✭Get Real


    40% alc vol is yje limit in Ireland. Generally poitin can be anywhere from 70-80% alc vol, same as absinthe. Although I beleive certain speciality shops are exempt but can only sell a certain amount and and very high prices.


  • #8
    juice1304
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,805 ✭✭✭juice1304


    Because it can make you go blind and or even kill you. The alcohol that comes out of the still first is highly toxic.


  • #9
    Yakult
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 7,944 Mod ✭✭✭✭Yakult


    An alcoholic drink thats illegal in Ireland?! Wtf


  • #10
    admiralofthefleet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15,515 ✭✭✭✭admiralofthefleet


    galwayrush wrote: »
    No control over it's production, widely varied proof.
    Plus no VAT...

    that and it could peel the enamel off a bucket. my granda used to mix it with oil and rub it into his knees


  • #11
    GRMA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭GRMA


    Bring back McIlhatton


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    Herb Powell
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,097 ✭✭✭Herb Powell


    juice1304 wrote: »
    Because it can make you go blind and or even kill you. The alcohol that comes out of the still first is highly toxic.

    Methanol is one hell of a drug.


  • #13
    Corruptedmorals
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,195 ✭✭✭Corruptedmorals


    juice1304 wrote: »
    Because it can make you go blind and or even kill you. The alcohol that comes out of the still first is highly toxic.

    Yes, and Bali and other Indonesian islands are proof of that. Unregulated unlicensed 'the stronger the better' drink can be very dangerous, I'm glad it doesn't happen here.


  • #14
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 1,427 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    admiralofthefleet wrote: »
    because its horrible?

    By that logic the majority of pisswater beer (bud etc.) sold in Irish pubs should be illegal!


  • #15
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Not sure the legality has anything to do with the alcohol %, more to do with your license to sell liquor and to manufacture a product safe for human consumption in a sterile environment that can be checked out by your local health board.

    You can buy a bottle of something called "poitin" in Shannon airport duty free, which I doubt very much was cooked up in a bucket behind some chancer's shed up a mountain in Kerry somewhere for instance.


  • #16
    Pure Sound
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 451 ✭✭Pure Sound


    GRMA wrote: »
    Bring back McIlhatton
    You blurt we need you


  • #17
    seven_eleven
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,558 ✭✭✭seven_eleven


    I dislike when people replace "why" with "how".


  • #18
    Scortho
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,876 ✭✭✭Scortho


    Can be bought in the Celtic whiskey shop in Dawson st.
    https://www.celticwhiskeyshop.com/Irish_Liqueurs/Poitin/A_to_z_of_Poitin-category-6-distillery-33-z-distillery.htm
    The reason as to why you can't buy the poitin made down the country (haven't heard of it in dublin) is because you need a license to distill spirits. Which are very expensive.


  • #19
    hfallada
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,180 ✭✭✭hfallada


    If you rub it on your skin its like deep heat... I think its more down to not having tax that its illegal. Like selling medical marijuana in california without having a licence and paying tax on it


  • #20
    MadsL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,299 ✭✭✭✭MadsL


    Herb Powell wrote: »
    Methanol is one hell of a drug.

    Methanol, not even once.


  • #21
    dasdog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,873 ✭✭✭dasdog


    seven_eleven wrote: »
    I dislike when people replace "why" with "how".

    Guaranteed you've never taken LSD.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 94,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    dasdog wrote: »
    ...at what % does alcoholic drink become criminal?
    http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/excise/duties/excise-duty-rates.html

    You need to pay excise duty on anything with more than 1.2% alcohol.

    36.85 per litre of alcohol in the spirits after that if you have the necessary licenses which cost €500 each

    you need licenses to distil and wholesale / retail licenses


  • #23
    opinion guy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,001 ✭✭✭✭opinion guy


    dasdog wrote: »
    ...at what % does alcoholic drink become criminal?


    40%


  • #24
    Rasheed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Rasheed


    Went to a friends granny's house one night and we started drinking poitin.

    Jesus, I never tasted anything so horrid but I kept at it regardless. Fell asleep where I was sitting and woke up with the mother of hangovers.

    Drank a pint of water and was as drunk again as I was the night before. Apparently that it had something to do with the potency of the poitin still in my system.

    Don't ask me why it happened, I just took the word of the granny that was reared on it.

    It's desperate stuff but you have to try it once.


  • #25
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    Rasheed wrote: »
    Went to a friends granny's house one night and we started drinking poitin.

    Jesus, I never tasted anything so horrid but I kept at it regardless. Fell asleep where I was sitting and woke up with the mother of hangovers.

    Drank a pint of water and was as drunk again as I was the night before. Apparently that it had something to do with the potency of the poitin still in my system.

    Don't ask me why it happened, I just took the word of the granny that was reared on it.

    It's desperate stuff but you have to try it once.
    Ya see, something that hatchet should be illegal as much as legal, if you catch my meaning. Mind you, theres loads of gear thats illegal and theres feck all being done about it.


  • #26
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 24,713 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    They shouldn't be allowed call that crap they sell in airports "poitin". Proper poitin is lovely stuff especially in a hot poitin, it will help clear a cold more than any tablets :D.


  • #27
    Senna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    Get Real wrote: »
    40% alc vol is yje limit in Ireland.
    opinion guy wrote: »
    40%

    Chartreuse is 55% and sold in pubs.


  • #28
    Legwinski
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 799 ✭✭✭Legwinski


    opinion guy wrote: »
    40%

    Pretty sure Goldschlager and Green Chartreuse are over 40%!


  • #29
    shedweller
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,029 ✭✭✭shedweller


    So it's the lack of tax then. \thread


  • #30
    Senna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    There isn't an upper limit, pure alcohol will just rip your throat and no-one would drink it. High alcohol drinks are available but the ABV rates make them too expensive for anyone to bother buying.


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    syklops
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,966 ✭✭✭✭syklops


    Alec Shapely Stimulation wrote: »
    They shouldn't be allowed call that crap they sell in airports "poitin". Proper poitin is lovely stuff especially in a hot poitin, it will help clear a cold more than any tablets :D.

    I can't fully agree with you because my mother did the flavouring for the Bunratty poitin which is popular among US Soldiers and is sold in Shannon Airport.

    Its shame that so much is done to keep the Irish language alive, and another part of Irish culture and heritage has been made illegal and the skill of making poitin is on its deathbed. Quality poitin, like quality vodka has a smooth flavour and is very drinkable. Unfortunately, few if any examples remain.


Advertisement