From Kitchen to Criminal Case: Where the Line Is Drawn in the Moonshine Business

Just a few years ago, moonshine stills were associated in the public mind with rural life and attempts to save money on alcohol purchases. Today, it's become a full-fledged consumer category: equipment is sold on marketplaces, manufacturers count millions of installed units, and demand is measured not in isolated purchases but in steady streams of receipts.

According to experts, at least 2.5 million moonshine stills are in use in Russia. Home-produced alcohol may account for up to 20% of spirits consumption in the country—around 200 million liters per year.

At the same time, Russian law draws a clear line: buying a still and using it at home is legal, but turning home production into a business without a license can lead not only to fines but also to criminal liability.

From garage to marketplaces: how the moonshine still market has grown

Russia's moonshine equipment market has evolved in recent years from a niche product to a full-fledged e-commerce category. After sharp growth during the pandemic, demand first stabilized but then began increasing again.

In 2023, the market was recovering from the pandemic spike. According to Wildberries, sales of moonshine stills with capacity up to 100 liters grew by 58% compared to 2022.

However, a demand correction occurred in 2024. Marketplace sales of moonshine stills declined by 5%, while the number of product listings dropped by 7%. Consumer interest also waned: the number of search queries for "buy moonshine still" fell by 23% between November 2023 and November 2024, down to 66,800 queries.