Can I distill my own slivovice at home in Czechia?
Not at home — but through a grower's distillery, yes. Owning and running a still without a permit is illegal, and distilling at home is against the law in any quantity. The legal Czech tradition is pěstitelské pálení: you bring your own fruit mash to a registered distillery, which makes you up to 30 litres of pure ethanol — i.e. 60 litres of 50 % spirit — per household per production season (1 July–30 June) at a reduced excise tax. You ferment the mash at home; the distillery does the distilling. An illegal still is a tax crime with fines reaching millions of CZK.
📋 The rules
- Home distilling = illegal in any amount (Spirits Act 61/1997)
- Grower's distilling: max 30 l ethanol / 60 l of 50 % spirit per household per season
- Production season: 1 July – 30 June
- Only from your own fruit (or fruit from a rented orchard)
- The spirit is for own consumption — selling it is banned
🔓 Exceptions
- Stills may only be owned/operated with a Customs Administration permit
- You may legally ferment the fruit mash at home — only the distilling must happen at the distillery
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Illegal spirit production: fines from tens of thousands up to millions of CZK, back-payment of excise duty, and possible criminal charges for unlawful alcohol production. Exceeding the 30 l limit means paying the full tax rate on the excess.
📎 Official sources
- Czech Customs · Notice on grower's distilling (CS) →
- Advokátní deník · Legal aspects of grower's distilling (CS) →
- Právo pro všechny · Home alcohol production rules (CS) →
❓ Frequently asked
How much can I have distilled?
30 litres of ethanol per household per season — in practice 60 litres of 50 % slivovice — at the reduced excise rate.
Can I buy a small still?
They are sold, but operating one requires a customs permit — otherwise it's an illegal distillery.
Can I sell my slivovice?
No — grower-distilled spirit is strictly for your household's own consumption.
What if I exceed the limit?
Above 30 litres of ethanol you pay the full excise rate; concealing it is a tax offence with heavy fines.
Is home brewing beer or wine also banned?
No — beer and wine for own consumption are legal at home (up to 2,000 l of beer/year per household tax-free); the ban concerns distillation.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “home distilling czech republic”
- “slivovice legal czechia”
- “czech grower distillery”
- “moonshine law czech”
- “palenice czech tradition”