The Cranston Act

While President Jimmy Carter certainly had his shortcomings, this blog has made an effort to recognize his contributions towards expanded economic freedom, most notably airline and trucking deregulation. I just discovered, however, yet another area where Carter permitted expanded freedom -- homebrewing.

Even after the end of prohibition the production of beer for personal consumption was still forbidden under federal law. As this article says:

In 1978, NY Congressman Barbar Conable sponsored a bill that would legalize homebrewing. When introducing the bill to Congress, Conable said that Americans should not have to “rely on the beer barons” for their brew. It wasn’t until 1979, when President Jimmy Carter signed the Cranston Act [named after California Senator Alan Cranston], that home brewing was legalized in many states. At the time of the law’s passage, only forty four breweries were in operation the US.

Since that time, of course, the number of beers available to consumers has exploded, in part thanks to deregulation and increased economic freedom. Thanks, Jimmy.