UK Law - Brewing on a work premise

[jaj23]

Hi,

I am trying to convince my HR department to let a few of us brew beer at our office and then the staff will drink each batch.

Can anyone point me to any information on the UK legalities of doing this? We will not be selling any of it, so it will be brewed and consumed at the office by the staff.

Any help, much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[geetee]

I would reckon that is covered by Homebrewing where no duty is paid as it is given awayfreely.
Whether you are allowed depends on whether your site has an anti alcohol policy or if it would infringe any insurance requirements for accidents due to the brewing or effects of drinking, the company could be held liable and may refuse!

 

[Leon103]

Where do you work?

 

[IainM]

This thread might be helpful: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32337

 

[huwb]

Try looking at .gov website, check out excise notice 226 beer duty. That should give u all.u need as far as hmrc are concerned. I guess additional to that it will be ur companies H&S regulations and insurance etc ?

 

[klaus]

My company(US multi) has a clear "no alcohol" (or other intoxicating substances) rule. Last time alcohol was on site (for a staff BBQ) this had to be signed off by the HR VP!

 

[simon12]

Excise notice 226 states:
"4.4 Exemption from registration
You do not need to apply for registration to produce beer in the following circumstances:

brewing solely for your own domestic consumption
brewing only for research or experimental purposes - see section 17
Note: If you are registered, any beer you produce for your own domestic consumption will be liable to Beer Duty"
I suggest you call or email HMRC about it and get them to confirm and so if there is ever any issue you have told them. You could also check with the council in case thay have any issue. Or just do it.

 

[GHW]

We made beer at work. As long as everyone's ok with it I can't imagine a problem.

Then again I work in advertising where a lot of things that would get you fired elsewhere are viewed as normal

 

[Spoon]

brewing solely for your own domestic consumption

That would I think be the critical criteria, the workplace isn't domestic, and strictly under the letter of the law it would imply you can't even give the stuff away.

Then there's the issue of it being a perk, so subject to tax as well.

On the other hand de minimis non curat lex. Serve it with your favorite sherry laden, jelly, sponge, cream and custard based desert and you should get away with it.

 

[jaj23]

So it's a small web design agency. I've already convinced the CEO and owner. I just need to convince head of HR it's legal

 

[LarryF]

How about the fact that it's not illegal? You might get away with it, also the building temperature control might work really well for fermenting.

 

[Beef]

Hi,

I am trying to convince my HR department to let a few of us brew beer at our office and then the staff will drink each batch.

Can anyone point me to any information on the UK legalities of doing this? We will not be selling any of it, so it will be brewed and consumed at the office by the staff.

Any help, much appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack

Hi Jack,
according to legal advice I’ve been given, giving beer to anyone that did not take part in the brewing process is tax evasion (i.e. very naughty). Whether HMRC would ever find out seems unlikely, and I also don’t know how strictly it would be enforced (tax evasion got Al Capone!)
I run an amateur brewery with the specific intention of giving away our beer to the public so, to avoid any legal trouble, we have registered with HMRC as a brewery and pay discounted excise duty on everything we brew (roughly £20 per 100 litres - depending on strength) this allows us to give it away to anyone.
Selling it would be far more complex and costly!
FYI you can legally brew and sell cider (up to a certain volume (which I can’t remember ~10,000 litres) so long as you register with HMRC first!

 

[user 23602]

.

 

[Druncan]

Problems with producing food (beer) in a commercial premises. However you dispose of it. Premises may require Food licence, EHO's, Licensing may be interested and then your business insurance. Premises owner may have an interest and waste disposal when you sludge up and block the drains,,,, then the EPA get involved,,,, Just a few things to bear in mind
Have fun!

 

[Gerryjo]

How about the fact that it's not illegal? You might get away with it, also the building temperature control might work really well for fermenting.

I work in a FAB which produces recording head media and for hard drives and all year is a constant 20.5°.

 

[xozzx]

according to legal advice I’ve been given, giving beer to anyone that did not take part in the brewing process is tax evasion

This would make entering beer competitions illegal!!

 

[LED_ZEP]

according to legal advice I’ve been given, giving beer to anyone that did not take part in the brewing process is tax evasion

Surely every one takes part as just by breathing they are influencing the amount of oxygen available for the yeast and their carbon footprint influences climate change thus setting the ambient brewing temp.

 

[F00b4r]

This would make entering beer competitions illegal!!

German home brew competitions require the tax code that you need to obtain to home brew here.

 

[Beef]

This would make entering beer competitions illegal!!

I’m just passing on advice I’ve been given, trying to help. Are you?

 

[xozzx]

I’m just passing on advice I’ve been given, trying to help. Are you?

Just a comment in a light hearted discussion. No need to get upset