Is pálinka in danger?

A governmental organisation is protesting against homemade pálinka, claiming the lenient rules are destroying the industry. By allowing a certain quantity of pálinka to be made at home, those who make a living from commercially selling it are in a tight spot. However, the rules that restrict making pálinka at home are difficult to enforce, too.

According to the Pálinka National Council (PNT), the government is destroying those producing pálinka for commercial trading by supporting an invisible competition. The organisation wants to discuss the issue and find a solution – reports Infostart.

The organisation went as far as saying that the thriving black market of pálinka made at home as well as the spread of illegally operated distilleries not only threaten the success of the sector but might mean the end of the drink known as the No. 1 Hungaricum – pálinka.

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The government set up a framework for making pálinka at home that is rather difficult to supervise and check by the authorities. Even though the organisation acknowledged that “going back to the pre-2010 situation is impossible”, they said that it would already be a huge step towards saving the industry if the government acknowledged that there is a thriving black market thanks to homemade pálinka, and tried to put the rules of production into proper legal terms.