Ohio resident John Ream is challenging a federal ban, dating back more than 150 years, on producing distilled spirits such as whisky or gin at home. He argues that Congress may not have the constitutional authority to prohibit small-scale, non-commercial distilling for personal use, particularly because home production of beer and wine is permitted.

The case centres on conflicting appeals-court decisions: the Sixth Circuit upheld the restriction as supporting federal liquor-tax collection, while the Fifth Circuit ruled that tax powers did not justify the ban. Both cases have reached the Supreme Court, but the justices have not yet agreed to hear them; only around 60 of the 7,000–10,000 petitions received annually are typically accepted.