India Releases Comprehensive Alcoholic Beverage Standard

Part 1: Preliminary

Definitions and general requirements on water, permitted substances, packaging etc.
 

Definitions, General Requirements

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Part 2: Distilled Alcoholic

Beverages

Definitions and requirements on different distilled alcoholic beverages.

Brandy, Country Liquors, Fenny or Feni, Gin, Rum, Vodka, Liqueur or Cordial or Aperitifs, Whisky or Whiskey,

Pot-still distilled spirit

Table 1: allowed content of different substances

Part 3: Wine and other fermented beverages

Definitions and requirements on different types of wine and fermented beverages.

Wine(includes grape wine, sparkling wine, fortified wine, wine from other fruits and wine from other agriculture sources), additional requirements.

Table 2: allowed content of different substances

Part 4: Beer

Definitions and requirements on different types of beers.

Regular or strong, lager, ale, wheat beer, stout and porter, additional requirements.

Table 3: allowed content of different substances
 

Part 5: Specific Labeling Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages

Mandatory labeling requirements.

Alcohol content, standard drinks, geographical indications, expiration date, allergen warning, health warning, etc.

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All alcoholic beverages

 Alcohol content shall be expressed as per cent. abv or as proof.
 

 Shouldn’t contain any nutritional information or health claim.

 Allergen warning in case of sulphur dioxide exceeding 10mg/l.
 

 Statutory warning of no less than 3 mm printed in English or   
 local/regional language containing the following text:

CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH. 
BE SAFE-DONT DRINK AND DRIVE
 

Imported alcoholic beverages

 Food Safety and Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, shall also
 apply.
 

Wine

In addition to those general labeling requirements, wine must indicate:

• country of origin,

• sugar amount,

• variety of grape or fruit used,  

• name of residues of preservatives/additives.