On the subject of “don’t do this,” a more humorous example is found during the Prohibition era.

Section 29 of the Volstead Act allowed 200 gallons of “non-intoxicating cider and fruit juice” to be made each year at home.  Initially “intoxicating” was defined as anything more than 0.5%,  but the Bureau of Internal Revenue soon struck that down and this effectively legalized home wine-making. Vintners increased their output drastically, and products like the above “grape brick” soon saw wide popularity.

The bricks came with a warning label that said, “After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine” or in the case of the brick pictured here, “To prevent fermentation, add 1/10% Benzoate of Soda.”

Remember that.

The Old Wolf has spoken.