What are the laws on Absinthe in the United States?

Question

I am interested in buying a bottle of Absinthe online, I have family and friends that love to drink it on occasions and I have tried it once but it was just a taste. I also have friends that buy it online, but is this legal? You don't see Absinthe in liquor stores, I am wondering how legal it is to buy it online in the Unites States. I know people that brew it at home, but I would rather buy it online as the ingredients to it are hard to find where I live. Anyone who could let me know it would be much appreicated! Thanks!

Answer 1

Laws:

1. Must test thujone free

2. Cannot be called absinthe

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TTB'S POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF THE TERM "ABSINTHE"

Thujone-Free.

We approve the use of the term "absinthe" on the label of a distilled spirits product and in related advertisements only if the product is "thujone-free" pursuant to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulation at 21 CFR 172.510. Based upon the level of detection of FDA's prescribed method for testing for the presence of thujone, TTB considers a product to be "thujone-free" if it contains less than 10 parts per million of thujone. However, should the FDA set a new standard for "thujone-free," in accordance with 27 CFR 13.51, COLAs that are not in compliance with that revised standard will be revoked by operation of regulation.

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As far as the name goes "absinthe" may  appear on the packaging, but just as a *fanciful term* and it must modify some other word the manufacturer chooses. They can sell “absinthe blah blah ” or “absinthe whatever”—but not plain old “absinthe.”

Answer 2

It was totally illegal until 2007.  In 2007 some products labelled as "absinthe" were legalized, but they must be thujone free(none of the defining herb wormwood).  the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau defines "thujone free"  as meaning less than 10 parts-per-million (10mg/L) thujone. It is an ongoing debate whether "thujone free" absinthe should be considered authentic, with the common understanding being that traditional absinthe contained higher levels of thujone but current manufacturers arguing that vintage absinthe had similarly low levels of thujone.

Bottom line: if you buy the legal absinthe in the US, you won't have the same effects as the stuff you get elsewhere, but I believe it tastes the same (never had the low thujone stuff)

Answer 3

You'll see it more in better liquor stores now that they've dropped the law. I've seen it on the specialty shelves at a few places and it's now perfectly legal to buy it anywhere in the USA where you can buy any other liquor.

Try calling a few nicer liquor stores and asking them. I think they'll have a better selection and you won't have to figure out shipping, which is a nightmare for alcohol in a lot of places.

Answer 4

It's not legal to buy the 'foreign' kind, but when they ship it they state that it is glassware or such on the customs label. chances of getting caught are minimal

Answer 5

They just legalized it, however the version that is legal here is not like the stuff they sell in other countries. Not only is it nasty, but it doesn't really do a lot more than make you tipsy like any other liquor.... not like the stuff in other countries that is supposed to make you hallucinate.