AIBU to be angry ad DS16 for fermenting alcohol

[SassyBear2]

A strange smell was coming from DS16's cupboard and so I tried to find out what was causing that odour. When I opened the cupboard I found a conical flask with a cloudy liquid inside of it + airlock on top of it. This was clearly a fermentation setup. When I spoke to my DS about this he admitted that the liquid inside of the flask is yeast, water, sugar and yeast minerals and so the goal is very clearly to produce alcohol. I'm assuming it's because he's attending a party soon and so instead of going through the hassle of buying alcohol whilst under 18 he took matters into his own hands.

AIBU to be very angry at my son for producing alcohol? How should I approach this situation? Also is it uncommon for teens his age to be drinking or producing their own alcohol? Should I be concerned?

He’s fermenting, not distilling. It won’t kill him!

Concerned yes as what he is making is likely to be poisonous!

It's actually quite hard to make methanol (and, incidentally vinegar) if you are using fruit juices and everyday yeast. And unless you have no sense of smell, or taste, you will know if anything has gone wrong.

Whenever I've had a mishap, you just end up with a rather sweet product, as the yeast fails to ferment all the sugar. Which is a pain as I hate sweet wines.

For context, my DH did this back in the day. He went to a famous public school. He and his friends collected spare oranges and sugar from the hall and spare equipment from the science dept. He brewed some foul concoction in his room which they all drank. I'm not sure it was very potent and apparently it tasted terrible but they were all v. chuffed with themselves.

As PPs have mentioned, you should discuss the dangers of accidentally brewing the wrong thing and liability if others drink it - I doubt my DH thought about any of that in the early 80s.

Whilst hilarious, this is incredibly dangerous and it’s completely illegal to distill spirits in the uk. Because of how utterly dangerous it is.

Weirdly, brew kits are not age restricted in the UK. Although a few retailers might have their own take.

Stills also are not unlawful. Indeed you can get some pretty decent column stills these days. (But if you are on a water meter, they probably aren't a thing 😀)

Whilst hilarious, this is incredibly dangerous and it’s completely illegal to distill spirits in the uk. Because of how utterly dangerous it is.

Fermentation is part of the distilling process and based on the ingredients, and without further detailed info from OP/her son it’s entirely possible he’s trying to make a spirit. No mention of hops for beer or grapes for wine…..

Not quite sure what that says that I've been doing it for (checks notes) 18 years.

I guess being a swat in science paid off 🤔

The illegality isn't about danger (you really think the government cares about you that much ?). It's about lost revenue 😀

it explains a lot 😂

ETA: just kidding. Because this is MN and someone will get the wrong end of the stick.

Loads of people make their own wine. Something must have gone badly wrong for someone to die.

If he has already done A Level chemistry then surely he is over 18. EDIT I've just re read the OP and he's 16.

If you were doing it from a kit, you'd just have the juice or wort to start with. Neither of which can ferment out enough methanol to talk about (bearing in mind the antidote to methanol poisoning is actually ethanol 😀.)

If you are more adventurous and trying to use actual fruits (and there must be a bumper harvest this year ?_ then you are straying into more exciting territory. My memory was to avoid cherries (no great hardship for me) as they can produce a bit more methanol. Possibly something to do with the stones.

On a serious note, the UK desperately needs a legion of people like the OPs DS. Obviously it will never happen - much more likely the DS will end up abroad.

I'd buy him some sensible stretch beers for the party and a homebrew kit for Christmas and ask him to keep you informed of what he's up to so you can veto anything stupid and dangerous.

If you get it wrong (it's quite a sensitive process) then the wash will become infected and you (and the street) will know about it. Even then it's unlikely to kill you (if you can manage to stomach it).

As with anything you plan on putting in your mouth basic hygiene is your friend.

I guess you could get a nasty e Coli poisoning. But I have't read or heard of it happening.

Most things that go wrong are a result of trying to make money from it.

Honestly loads of people make their own wine and beer. It was a big thing in the 70s and there weren't mass deaths. My Dad made beer, wine and cider there was always something on the go. Distilling spirits is something else (and illegal) and this might be what you are thinking of particularly if raw spirits gave been added.

Same 😂

My brother tried it when he was 14. (He now lives in the US ...)

This being MN I am guessing, trying home brewing is now being added to the list of reasons you should never leave anyone under the age of 25 home alone whilst you have a night away

I'd be impressed with his resourcefulness! I'd probably buy him some beers to take to the party and insist the home brew is only tried at home where I could supervise

Thats impressive and resourceful, better than gaming all day, he ll be making crystal meth next

Yes, I wondered

I mean realistically how much booze are you going to get out of a conical flask.

And more realistically would anyone actually drink it ?

The stuff will probably taste foul and have an alcohol strength of next to nothing, even it if has any alcohol in it.

No I wouldn't be very angry.

Buy him a home beer kit so he can actually brew some decent stuff. There used to be some sort of sock thing you could hang on your bedroom door IIRC.

The first steps to making prison hooch.
He'll be ok if he ever gets sent dahn.👍🤣

If he's being sensible and scientific, there would be a small scale proof of concept before proceeding to production.

It's what I did would do

The stuff will probably taste foul

Depends on the process. This is where choosing your yeast and balancing the wash are key. Although it's worth noting that it's the "impurities" that make fermented (and spirits distilled thereof) nice.

Pure alcohol is odourless and tasteless.

My god how clever, he’s going to be a chemist.