[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 27, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 27CFR7.71]

[Page 101-102]
 
            TITLE 27--ALCOHOL, TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND FIREARMS
 
 CHAPTER I--ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE 
                                TREASURY
 
PART 7_LABELING AND ADVERTISING OF MALT BEVERAGES--Table of Contents
 
     Subpart H_Interim Regulations for Alcoholic Content Statements
 
Sec. 7.71  Alcoholic content.


    (a) General. Alcoholic content and the percentage and quantity of 
the original gravity or extract may be stated on a label unless 
prohibited by State law. When alcoholic content is stated, and the 
manner of statement is not required under State law, it shall be stated 
as prescribed in paragraph (b) of this section.
    (b) Form of statement. (1) Statement of alcoholic content shall be 
expressed in percent alcohol by volume, and not by

[[Page 102]]

percent by weight, proof, or by maximums or minimums.
    (2) For malt beverages containing 0.5 percent or more alcohol by 
volume, statements of alcoholic content shall be expressed to the 
nearest one-tenth of a percent, subject to the tolerance permitted by 
paragraph (c) (1) and (2) of this section. For malt beverages containing 
less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume, alcoholic content may be 
expressed in one-hundredths of a percent, subject to the tolerance 
permitted in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
    (3) Alcoholic content shall be expressed in the following fashion: 
``alcohol--percent by volume,'' ``alcohol by volume--percent,'' ``--
percent alcohol by volume,'' or ``--percent alcohol/volume.'' The 
abbreviations ``alc'' and ``vol'' may be used in lieu of the words 
``alcohol'' and ``volume,'' and the symbol ``%'' may be used in lieu of 
the word ``percent.''
    (c) Tolerances. (1) For malt beverages containing 0.5 percent or 
more alcohol by volume, a tolerance of 0.3 percent will be permitted, 
either above or below the stated percentage of alcohol. Any malt 
beverage which is labeled as containing 0.5 percent or more alcohol by 
volume may not contain less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume, 
regardless of any tolerance.
    (2) For malt beverages which are labeled as ``low alcohol'' or 
``reduced alcohol'' under paragraph (d) of this section, the actual 
alcoholic content may not equal or exceed 2.5 percent alcohol by volume, 
regardless of any tolerance permitted by paragraph (c)(1) of this 
section.
    (3) For malt beverages containing less than 0.5 percent alcohol by 
volume, the actual alcoholic content may not exceed the labeled 
alcoholic content. A malt beverage may not be labeled with an alcoholic 
content of 0.0 percent alcohol by volume unless it is also labeled as 
``alcohol free'' and contains no alcohol.
    (d) Low alcohol and reduced alcohol. The terms ``low alcohol'' or 
``reduced alcohol'' may be used only on malt beverages containing less 
than 2.5 percent alcohol by volume.
    (e) Non-alcoholic. The term ``non-alcoholic'' may be used on malt 
beverages, provided the statement ``contains less than 0.5 percent (or 
.5%) alcohol by volume'' appears in direct conjunction with it, in 
readily legible printing and on a completely contrasting background.
    (f) Alcohol free. The term ``alcohol free'' may be used only on malt 
beverages containing no alcohol.

[T.D. ATF-339, 58 FR 21232, Apr. 19, 1993]