Where is Everclear® Alcohol Sale Prohibited?
- California
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Washington
- Virginia (Available at government stores with permit)
Why is Everclear alcohol sale prohibited in these states?
When prohibition ended in 1933, states individually crafted their regulations regarding the sale and consumption of ethyl alcohol within their territories. As a result, each state now possesses its unique set of rules, laws, departments, statutes, and regulations governing ethyl alcohol. In the United States, the specifics of alcohol regulation—defining what activities and substances are covered, regulated, prohibited, permitted, or allowable—vary significantly from state to state. The differences in language, legal rationale, rules, commission votes, or other legal directives contribute to whether a product like Everclear alcohol is available in a particular state. For detailed information on the regulations of a specific state, click the state's name in the list provided above.
States that ban Everclear allow 200 Proof Food Grade Alcohol for "Non-Beverage" Use.
Ethyl alcohol as a food safe solvent is incredibly useful in a myriad of commercial and industrial processes and applications. Accordingly, /most/ every state in the United States has specific rules or call-out language addressing the rules pertaining to "non-beverage alcohol". These rules can define the legality by the properties of the alcohol (ie: not less than 190 proof), or can be defined by the allowable uses (ie toiletries, perfumes, body products, commercial processing, medicinal preparations, educational and institutional use, etc). If you live in a state that prohibits Everclear for sale on the store shelf, there is a good chance your state allows for 200 proof food grade alcohol if you are not using the product for beverage purposes.
What is a for-beverage purpose?
A beverage purpose is considered consumption of the ethyl alcohol in an amount that can cause intoxication by the ethyl alcohol.
What is considered non-beverage purpose?
Lots of things! Herbal tinctures, homemade perfumes, vanilla extract, cocktail bitters, extracts, concentrates, surface disinfectants, hand sanitizer, edible decorations, precision manufacturing, shellac, electronics repair, cannabis processing, and much much more.
What is considered food grade alcohol
Food Grade alcohol contains no additives, only pure ethyl alcohol. Food grade alcohol is often bottled and sold at 200 proof (100% ABV). Food grade alcohol is also available in 190 proof strength. Culinary Solvent is an alternative brand offering pure food grade 200 proof ethanol shipped direct from the distillery in Maine.
How to buy food grade alcohol in states that ban Everclear.
Most states that ban Everclear offer specfic legal protections guaranteeing access to pure ethyl alcohol for non-beverage purposes.
Is Culinary Solvent the Same as Everclear?
Culinary Solvent and Everclear are both pure, undenatured ethanol products, but the similarities end there. Read our detailed explanation on how these two brands of pure food grade alcohol differ.
Everclear® is a registered trademark of Luxco, Inc. and is not affiliated with Culinary Solvent or The Northern Maine Distilling Company.
