A landmark decision issued by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on April 10, 2026, declaring unconstitutional the 158-year-old federal ban on home distillation of spirits under Internal Revenue Code sections 5601(a)(6) and 5178(a)(1)(B). The ruling sided with the Hobby Distillers Association and its members, arguing that the prohibition exceeds Congress's taxing power and infringes on individual rights.

This appellate court judgment effectively strikes down criminal penalties for personal distillation at home, potentially paving the way for hobbyists to legally produce spirits without federal oversight, pending further appeals or Supreme Court review.