High court takes up challenge to 160-year-old ban on distilling alcohol at home

Read more... The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear a challenge to a federal law barring the distilling of alcohol at home, weighing whether it oversteps the federal government’s powers.The high court said in an orders list released Monday morning that it will take up Department of Justice v. Scott McNutt for oral arguments later this term, possibly striking down the 160-year-old federal ban on home distilling. The Supreme Court had two pending cases over the distilling ban, opting to take up the appeal brought by the federal government. .explore-more-section { background: var(--wex-bg); border-top: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff; margin: 24px 0; margin-top: -20px; }@scope (#mos-c6b26df6-07cb-495a-ba32-29bacea532e7) { .we-meter, .we-meter * { box-sizing: border-box; } .we-meter { --we-red: #DB3745; --we-red-hover: #c42d3a; --we-charcoal: #323E48; --we-blue: #15BEF0; --we-slate: #85A0AB; --we-gold: #ECC270; --we-text: #323E48; --we-border: #85A0AB; position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; max-width: 680px; margin: 24px auto; padding: clamp(18px, 3vw, 28px); border: 1px solid var(--we-border); border-radius: 12px; background: #fff; color: var(--we-text); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .we-grid { position: relative; z-index: 1; display: grid; grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) auto; gap: clamp(16px, 2.5vw, 28px); align-items: center; } .we-title { margin: 0 0 8px; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: clamp(19px, 2.4vw, 23px); line-height: 1.2; letter-spacing: -.02em; } .we-title span { display: block; color: var(--we-red); } .we-copy { margin: 0; font-size: clamp(13px, 1.5vw, 14px); line-height: 1.45; } .we-actions { text-align: center; flex-shrink: 0; } .we-cta { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 8px; width: 100%; padding: 11px 18px; border-radius: 8px; background: var(--we-red); color: #fff !important; text-decoration: none; font-size: clamp(13px, 1.5vw, 14px); font-weight: 700; white-space: nowrap; transition: background-color 0.15s ease; } .we-cta:hover { background: var(--we-red-hover); } .we-arrow { font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1; } .we-arrow-icon { width: .72em; height: 1.05em; flex: 0 0 auto; display: block; filter: brightness(0) invert(1); } .we-member { margin: 8px 0 0; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.35; } .we-member a { color: var(--we-red); text-decoration: none; } .we-member a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } @media (max-width: 600px) { .we-meter::after { width: 45%; opacity: .15; } .we-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 16px; } .we-actions { text-align: left; } .we-cta { width: 100%; } .we-member { text-align: center; margin-top: 8px; } } }if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-c6b26df6-07cb-495a-ba32-29bacea532e7-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(/^@scope (#mos-c6b26df6-07cb-495a-ba32-29bacea532e7) { /, '').replace(/}$/, '');}} Real journalism.Trusted by millions. Unlimited access to in-depth reporting, expert analysis, and the stories that shape our country. Subscribe Now › Already a member? Log in #mos-d526c61f-0059-4e9b-9fa7-afe88104d7a0 > section { display: none; }@scope (#mos-13d7afc9-84ad-4487-b11c-146b5b889a25) { .we-page-content { text-align: center; margin-bottom: 32px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #333; } .we-page-headline { font-size: 42px; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 24px; font-weight: bold; } .we-paywall-text { font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.5; color: #555; } .we-inline-barrier { --we-red: #DB3745; --we-charcoal: #323E48; --we-blue: #15BEF0; --we-slate: #85A0AB; --we-gold: #ECC270; --we-white: #ffffff; position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 100%; max-width: 722px; /* Reduced another 15% from 850px */ margin: 14px auto; border-radius: 14px; /* Reduced another 15% from 17px */ color: #fff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(50,62,72,.99) 0%, rgba(50,62,72,.92) 43%, rgba(50,62,72,.48) 68%, rgba(50,62,72,.22) 100%), linear-gradient(0deg, rgba(50,62,72,.70), rgba(50,62,72,.08) 50%), url("https://www.conservativenewsdaily.net/breaking-news/wp-content/uploads//2026/10/localimages/Washington_Examiner_Capitol_Final.png6ad63037e2342.png") right center / 50% 100% no-repeat, var(--we-charcoal); } .we-inner { position: relative; z-index: 2; max-width: 382px; /* Reduced another 15% from 450px */ padding: clamp(20px, 2.9vw, 42px); /* Reduced another 15% */ } .we-title { margin: 0 0 20px; /* Reduced another 15% from 24px */ font-family: Constantia, "Lucida Bright", "DejaVu Serif", Georgia, "serif"; font-size: clamp(25px, 3.4vw, 46px); /* Reduced another 15% */ line-height: .98; letter-spacing: -.035em; color: white!important; } .we-title span { display: block; color: var(--we-red); } .we-deck { margin: 0 0 21px; /* Reduced another 15% from 25px */ max-width: 360px; /* Reduced another 15% from 425px */ font-size: clamp(12px, 1.2vw, 18px); /* Reduced another 15% */ line-height: 1.55; color: white!important; } .we-cta { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 11px; /* Reduced another 15% from 13px */ width: min(100%, 318px); /* Reduced another 15% from 374px */ padding: 12px 17px; /* Reduced another 15% */ border-radius: 8px; /* Reduced another 15% from 10px */ background: var(--we-red); color: #fff !important; text-decoration: none; font-size: clamp(12px, 1.3vw, 19px); /* Reduced another 15% */ font-weight: 700; } .we-cta:hover, .we-cta:focus-visible { filter: brightness(.94); } .we-arrow { font-size: 1.35em; font-weight: 400; } .we-member, .we-cancel { font-size: clamp(10px, 1vw, 15px); /* Reduced another 15% from 18px */ line-height: 1.4; } .we-member { margin: 18px 0 0; /* Reduced another 15% from 21px */ color: white !important; } .we-cancel { margin: 8px 0 0; /* Reduced another 15% from 10px */ color: white !important; } .we-member a { color: var(--we-red); text-decoration: none; } @media (max-width: 820px) { .we-inline-barrier { background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(50,62,72,.42) 0%, rgba(50,62,72,.94) 45%, rgba(50,62,72,1) 100%), url("https://www.conservativenewsdaily.net/breaking-news/wp-content/uploads//2026/10/localimages/Washington_Examiner_Capitol_Final.png6ad63037e2342.png") top right / 100% 50% no-repeat, var(--we-charcoal); } .we-inner { max-width: none; padding-top: 35%; } .we-cta { width: 100%; } } .we-print-subscriber, .we-digital-subscriber { text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; color: #333; } .we-print-subscriber { margin-top: 12px; } .we-digital-subscriber { margin-top: 6px; } .we-print-subscriber a, .we-digital-subscriber a { color: #DB3745; text-decoration: underline; } }if (typeof CSSScopeRule == 'undefined') { const style = document.getElementById('mos-13d7afc9-84ad-4487-b11c-146b5b889a25-style'); if (style) { style.textContent = style.textContent.replace(/^@scope (#mos-13d7afc9-84ad-4487-b11c-146b5b889a25) { /, '').replace(/}$/, '');}} Print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account Digital subscriber? Click here to login/register your account. Trusted reporting.Unlimited access. Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism. Get Unlimited Access › Already a member? Log in Cancel anytime. (window._matherq = window._matherq || []).push([ 'paywallEvent', { type: 'paywall', category: 'block', action: 'stop', wall_type: 'paywall' } ]);