27 C.F.R. Subpart C—Health Warning Statement Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages
Title 27 - Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms
(a) Domestic products. On and after November 18, 1989, no person shall bottle for sale or distribution in the United States any alcoholic beverage unless the container of such beverage bears the health warning statement required by §16.21. It is the responsibility of the bottler to provide, upon request, sufficient evidence to establish that the alcoholic beverage was bottled prior to November 18, 1989. (b) Imported products. On and after November 18, 1989, no person shall import for sale or distribution in the United States any alcoholic beverage unless the container of such beverage bears the health warning statement required by §16.21. This requirement does not apply to alcoholic beverages that were bottled in the foreign country prior to November 18, 1989. It is the responsibility of the importer to provide, upon request, sufficient evidence to establish that the alcoholic beverage was bottled prior to such date. There shall be stated on the brand label or separate front label, or on a back or side label, separate and apart from all other information, the following statement:
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. (Authority: Sec. 8001, Pub. L. 100–690, 102 Stat. 4181, 27 U.S.C. 215) (a) Legibility. (1) All labels shall be so designed that the statement required by §16.21 is readily legible under ordinary conditions, and such statement shall be on a contrasting background. (2) The first two words of the statement required by §16.21, i.e., “GOVERNMENT WARNING,” shall apear in capital letters and in bold type. The remainder of the warning statement may not appear in bold type. (3) The letters and/or words of the statement required by §16.21 shall not be compressed in such a manner that the warning statement is not readily legible. (4) The warning statement required by §16.21 shall appear in a maximum number of characters (i.e., letters, numbers, marks) per inch, as follows: (b) Size of type. (1) Containers of 237 milliliters (8 fl. oz.) or less. The mandatory statement required by §16.21 shall be in script, type, or printing not smaller than 1 millimeter. (2) Containers of more than 237 milliliters (8 fl. oz.) up to 3 liters (101 fl. oz.). The mandatory statement required by §16.21 shall be in script, type, or printing not smaller than 2 millimeters. (3) Containers of more than 3 liters (101 fl. oz.). The mandatory statement required by §16.21 shall be in script, type, or printing not smaller than 3 millimeters. (c) Labels firmly affixed. Labels bearing the statement required by §16.21 which are not an integral part of the container shall be affixed to containers of alcoholic beverages in such manner that thay cannot be removed without thorough application of water or other solvents. [T.D. ATF–294, 55 FR 5421, Feb. 14, 1990, as amended by T.D. 372, 61 FR 20723, May 8, 1996]
Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
PART 16—ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE HEALTH WARNING STATEMENT
Subpart C—Health Warning Statement Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages
§ 16.20 General.
§ 16.21 Mandatory label information.
§ 16.22 General requirements.
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maximum number of Minimum required type size for warning statement characters per inch------------------------------------------------------------------------1 millimeter............................................... 402 millimeters.............................................. 253 millimeters.............................................. 12------------------------------------------------------------------------
