Illicit Distilling

in Soviet criminal law, an economic crime involving the illegal manufacture of samogon and other strong alcoholic beverages at home. The social danger of illicit distilling lies in the misuse of the products used as raw materials, damage to the health of citizens, and violation of the state monopoly on the manufacture of strong alcoholic beverages. For example, according to the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (art. 158), both the manufacture or storage, without intent to sell, of samogon, grape vodka, arrack, mulberry vodka, homebrewed beer, or other home-distilled alcoholic beverages and the manufacture, without intent to sell, or the storage of equipment to produce such beverages are punishable by deprivation of freedom for a period of up to one year, by corrective labor for the same period, or by a fine of up to 300 rubles. The same actions when repeated are punishable by deprivation of freedom for a period of up to two years or by corrective labor for a period of up to one year. The punishment is more severe when these actions are done with intent to sell.