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Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 5178. Premises of distilled spirits plants

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).

Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 5178

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Added
September 2, 1958 by Pub. L. 85–859
Last amended
July 26, 1979 by Pub. L. 96–39
Amendments
4 dated changes in the source credit
Length
3 subsections · 620 words · about 3 min to read
Cross-references
cites 4; cited by 2 Code sections and 0 other regulations
(a) Location, construction, and arrangement
(1) General
(A) The premises of a distilled spirits plant shall be as described in the application required by section 5171(c). The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations relating to the location, construction, arrangement, and protection of distilled spirits plants as he deems necessary to facilitate inspection and afford adequate security to the revenue.
(B) No distilled spirits plant for the production of distilled spirits shall be located in any dwelling house, in any shed, yard, or inclosure connected with any dwelling house, or on board any vessel or boat, or on premises where beer or wine is made or produced, or liquors of any description are retailed, or on premises where any other business is carried on (except when authorized under subsection (b)).
(C) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter relating to distilled spirits plants the Secretary may approve the location, construction, arrangement, and method of operation of any establishment which was qualified to operate on the date preceding the effective date of this section if he deems that such location, construction, arrangement, and method of operation will afford adequate security to the revenue.
(2) Production operations
(A) Any person establishing a distilled spirits plant may, as described in his application for registration, produce distilled spirits from any source or substance.
(B) The distilling system shall be continuous and shall be so designed and constructed and so connected as to prevent the unauthorized removal of distilled spirits before their production gauge.
(C) The Secretary is authorized to order and require—
(i) such identification of, changes of, and additions to, distilling apparatus, connecting pipes, pumps, tanks, and any machinery connected with or used in or on the premises, and
(ii) such fastenings, locks, and seals to be part of any of the stills, tubs, pipes, tanks, and other equipment, as he may deem necessary to facilitate inspection and afford adequate security to the revenue.
(3) Warehousing operations
(A) Any person establishing a distilled spirits plant for the production of distilled spirits may, as described in the application for registration, warehouse bulk distilled spirits on the bonded premises of such plant.
(B) Distilled spirits plants for the bonded warehousing of bulk distilled spirits elsewhere than as described in subparagraph (A) may be established at the discretion of the Secretary by proprietors referred to in subparagraph (A) or by other persons under such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(4) Processing operations

Any person establishing a distilled spirits plant may, as described in the application for registration, process distilled spirits on the bonded premises of such plant.

(b) Use of premises for other businesses

The Secretary may authorize the carrying on of such other businesses (not specifically prohibited by section 5601(a)(6)) on premises of distilled spirits plants, as he finds will not jeopardize the revenue. Such other businesses shall not be carried on until an application to carry on such business has been made to and approved by the Secretary.

(c) Cross references
(1) For provisions authorizing the Secretary to require installation of meters, tanks, and other apparatus, see section 5552.
(2) For penalty for distilling on prohibited premises, see section 5601(a)(6).
(3) For provisions relating to the bottling of distilled spirits labeled as alcohol, see section 5235.
(4) For provisions relating to the unauthorized use of distilled spirits in any manufacturing process, see section 5601(a)(9).

(Added Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 201, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1353; amended Pub. L. 91–659, § 5, Jan. 8, 1971, 84 Stat. 1966; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L. 95–176, § 2(b), Nov. 14, 1977, 91 Stat. 1364; Pub. L. 96–39, title VIII, §§ 805(b)(1), 807(a)(18), July 26, 1979, 93 Stat. 275, 283.)

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 4 other sections

Cited by 2 Code sections

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 96–39Parts changed in 1979: (a)(1)(A) (a)(2) (a)(3) (a)(4) (a)(5)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 95–176Parts changed in 1977: (a)(3)(D)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 94–455
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 91–659Parts changed in 1971: (a)(4)(A)
  5. Added by Pub. L. 85–859

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle E Alcohol, Tobacco, and Certain Other Excise Taxes
  2. Chapter 51 DISTILLED SPIRITS, WINES, AND BEER
  3. Subchapter B Qualification Requirements for Distilled Spirits Plants

Nearby sections

Official notes

Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 5178, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 631, related to plan of distillery, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 85–859. See sections 5171(a) and 5172 of this title.

Provisions similar to those comprising subsecs. (a)(1)(A), (B), (2)(A) to (C), (3), (4)(A), (B), (D), (5), (b), (c)(1), (2), (4) of this section were contained in prior sections of act Aug. 16, 1954, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 85–859, as follows:

Present subsecs.:

Prior sections

(a)(1)(A)

5172, 5173(a), 5231, 5271(a), 5273(a), 5305.

(a)(1)(B)

5171(a).

(a)(2)(A)

5307.

(a)(2)(B)

5173(b).

(a)(2)(C)

5173(a), (c).

(a)(3)

5231, 5243(a), 5302.

(a)(4)(A)

5243(a).

(a)(4)(B), (D)

5271(a), 5273(a).

(a)(5)

5303, 5305, 5331(a)(1).

(b)

5171(a).

(c)(1)

5173(d)(1), 5273(b)(1).

(c)(2)

5171(b).

(c)(4)

5216(b).

The prior sections, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, are set out in 68A Stat. 627, 628, 641, 643, 645, 650, 654, 655, 657, 661.

Amendments

1979—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 96–39, § 807(a)(18), substituted “section 5171(c)” for “section 5171(a)”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 96–39, § 805(b)(1), substituted in heading “operations” for “facilities” and in subpar. (A) “produce” for “provided facilities which may be used for the production of” and struck out in subpar. (B) “closed at all points where potable or readily recoverable spirits are present and the distilling apparatus” after “shall be continuous and”.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 96–39, § 805(b)(1), substituted in heading “Warehousing operations” for “Bonded warehousing facilities” and in subpar. (A) “the application” for “his application” and “warehouse bulk distilled spirits” for “establish warehousing facilities” and struck out subpar. (C) which related to facilities for the storage on bonded premises of distilled spirits in casks, packages, cases, or similar portable approved containers and subpar. (D), which related to the establishment of a portion of the premises established under subpar. (C) as an export storage facility for the storage of distilled spirits returned to bonded premises under section 5215(b).

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 96–39, § 805(b)(1), substituted provisions relating to processing operations for provisions relating to bottling facilities.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 96–39, § 805(b)(1), struck out par. (5) which related to arrangement and segregation of denaturing facilities by regulation of the Secretary.

1977—Subsec. (a)(3)(D). Pub. L. 95–176 added subpar. (D).

1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.

1971—Subsec. (a)(4)(A). Pub. L. 91–659 substantially reenacted existing provisions and added cl. (ii) and the following sentence.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–39 effective Jan. 1, 1980, see section 810 of Pub. L. 96–39, set out as a note under section 5001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–176 effective on first day of first calendar month beginning more than 90 days after Nov. 14, 1977, see section 7 of Pub. L. 95–176, set out as a note under section 5003 of this title.

Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 91–659 effective on first day of first calendar month which begins more than 90 days after Jan. 8, 1971, see section 6 of Pub. L. 91–659, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5066 of this title.