No, Chile strictly prohibits the unlicensed production, distillation, or sale of alcoholic beverages, including moonshine, under the Ley de Alcoholes (Law 19.925) and Reglamento de Bebidas Alcohólicas. The Servicio Nacional para la Prevención y Rehabilitación del Consumo de Drogas y Alcohol (SENDA) enforces these rules, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment. Recent 2026 amendments to the Ley de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas tighten oversight, mandating digital tracking of alcohol production chains to curb illicit distillation.
Key Regulations for Making Moonshine at Home in Chile
- Licensing Requirement: Distilling spirits at home is illegal without a Licencia de Elaboración de Bebidas Alcohólicas, issued exclusively by the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG)—a process restricted to commercial entities. Home production is explicitly excluded under Decreto Supremo 73/2010.
- Prohibited Equipment: Possession or use of unregistered stills (alambiques) or distillation apparatus is criminalized under Código Sanitario Art. 114, with confiscation and asset forfeiture as penalties.
- Tax and Sanction Risks: Unlicensed production triggers Impuesto a las Bebidas Alcohólicas evasion charges, with fines up to 1,000 UTM (≈$85,000 USD in 2026) and potential criminal liability under Código Penal Art. 467 for tax fraud. SENDA collaborates with Carabineros to conduct raids on suspected operations.