# Synthetic Production of Ethyl Alcohol: Legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571 "2002-12-13T18:52:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/1 "2002-12-13T18:52:25Z")
This is directly related to the “Formenting [sic] Water” thread started by **Hayduke Lives!** a little while ago. In that thread it was mentioned that distilling sugar wine (a sucrose solution brewed with yeast to create a dilute ethyl alcohol solution) is illegal in this country, and so that closes the door to homebrew spirits. Or does it? Certainly, I thought, there _must_ be a way to create alcohol without needing any of the traditional trappings of microbes and sugars. I posed that question in the abovementioned thread, but (AFAIK) it was never answered. I stumbled across a three-step process to create _methyl_ alcohol from methane in _General Chemistry_ by Linus Pauling (ISBN 0-486-65622-5). I feel reasonably certain that the same method could be applied to ethane with the yield of ethyl alcohol. It would obviate the need for brewing and distilling, and it would produce pure ethyl alcohol (if I am correct in my assumption). Would it be legal for me to test my assumption in my own home? Could I buy all of the needed chemicals and run the reactions (relatively straightforward ones, actually) in my own home without needing any licenses if I didn’t sell the product? Is this an end-run around anti-brewing, anti-distilling laws using first-year chemistry? ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/2 "2002-12-13T20:46:15Z")
You can make synthetic ethanol directly out of ethylene, if you don’t mind drinking a petroleum product. In fact, you probably don’t: synthetic ethyl alcohol has long been widely used in drugs, vinegar and other food products according to the FDA. Ick. Making it yourself for personal consumption would be very dangerous, in that there’s still a high probability even absolute alcohol could contain 2-propanol, methanol and benzyne. So is it legal? I hate to say I don’t know; there could be some kind of loophole, since it isn’t really distillation. I’ll try to look it up just out of curiosity, but kids, don’t try this at home. ---
**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/3 "2002-12-13T21:07:53Z")
Making ethylalcohol from ethene is not so easy. Partial oxidation needs very precise control and you can end up blowing up your house trying to oxidize ethene assuming you somehow manage to steal ethylene. ---
**Author:** ![starfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@starfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/starfish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/4 "2002-12-13T21:45:45Z")
I am reasonably sure the laws restrict the “making” or “production” of ethyl alcohol, not the “methods” of making it. Distilling is a very common industrial process and is probably not restricted (taxed) by the government. There is probably even a strength (percentage or proff) limit to keep you from getting arrested when an apple falls off a tree and frements naturally. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/5 "2002-12-15T02:15:12Z")
A few years ago, i read that the FDA (which routinely analyzes ALL liquors and foodstuffs imported into the USA) found out that the Russians were trying to sneak in vodkas which were synthesized! All quality vodkas are distilled from grain or potatoes, but this swill was synthesized from natural gas! Arrgghhh! It must have contained fusel oils, benzine, and all kinds of crud! Wouldn’t want to drink that stuff! ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/6 "2002-12-15T02:34:50Z")
Yep, sythetic ethanol in beverage alcohol is a big FDA no-no. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/7 "2002-12-15T04:29:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > \*\*A few years ago, i read that the FDA (which routinely analyzes ALL liquors and foodstuffs imported into the USA) found out that the Russians were trying to sneak in vodkas which were synthesized! All quality vodkas are distilled from grain or potatoes, but this swill was synthesized from natural gas! Arrgghhh! It must have contained fusel oils, benzine, and all kinds of crud! Wouldn’t want to drink that stuff! \*\* I read something similar several years ago. Not that the Russians were trying to export the stuff to the U.S., but that they were producing it for domestic consumption. I haven’t been able to find out anything about it since. ---
**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/synthetic-production-of-ethyl-alcohol-legal/142571/8 "2002-12-15T05:22:35Z")
If you think synthetic alcohol has “oil taste”, its not ture : FROM [FDA Compliance Guide](http://www.mlmlaw.com/library/guides/fda/compguides/Cpg5_7.html) : > [@](#): > > _Practically and scientifically, pure ethyl alcohol synthesized from natural gas or petroleum products does not differ from that obtained by fermentation with subsequent distillation. Furthermore, foods in which one is used cannot be distinguished objectively from those in which the other is used._ However, the FDA does require product manufactures not to call synthetic alcohol as grain alcohol in their labeling. The vinegar you use is quite likely made from petroleum feedstock, did you ever feel that ? Also, even natural alcoholic drinks have chemicals in them which you don’t wanna even know about :d. So although our society prefers the alcohol from the faeces of living organisms, synthetic alcohol is not necessarily bad.