When your alcohol beverage company ventures into a new market, you might be focused on securing licenses, finding distributors, and establishing sales channels. However, one crucial detail that’s easy to overlook is whether your labels comply with the specific bottle deposit and redemption requirements of that state. These requirements can vary significantly from one state to another, and ensuring your labels meet local regulations is essential.
Even if you’re aware of bottle deposit and redemption regulations, applying them correctly to your products can be challenging. For instance, New York has precise definitions for what constitutes a “wine product” under its Bottle Bill. This means that not all wines may fall under the state’s bottle deposit labeling requirements. It is important to verify whether your wine meets New York’s specific criteria for “wine product” and ensure your labels are compliant with the state’s regulations.
Properly addressing these state-specific labeling requirements is crucial for maintaining compliance and avoiding potential issues. Redemption and bottle deposit requirements vary widely between states and often hinge on detailed state-specific definitions. Additionally, these requirements can change based on the type of container used. What is categorized as a malt beverage, beer, wine, cider, mead, or cocktail at the federal level might have different classifications in different states.
Before finalizing your product labels, it’s essential to review and understand the state-specific definitions to ensure accurate labeling. Although the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB“) allows updates to bottle deposit information on approved labels, correcting labels that have already been printed with incorrect deposit information can be both challenging and costly. Therefore, verifying these details should be a key step in your checklist before entering a new state market.
How Lindsey Zahn P.C. Can Assist with Bottle Deposit Labeling for Your Beverage Business
At Lindsey Zahn P.C., we focus on helping wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries navigate the complex world of bottle deposit and redemption labeling. Our expertise extends to reviewing and interpreting state-specific regulations to ensure your labels meet all necessary requirements.
Here’s how we can support your business:
- State-Specific Analysis: We’ll investigate the bottle deposit and redemption labeling requirements for your products at the state level, whether for a single item or an entire product line. We can also provide comprehensive analyses about how your product may be defined.
- Review of Proposed Labels: Based on our analysis, our firm will review a proposed label to determine if the information presented on the label complies with the bottle deposit requirements.
For more information on how Lindsey Zahn P.C. can help your company with bottle deposit labeling and other regulatory needs, please contact us at info@zahnlawpc.com or call (929) 924-6529. Let us guide you through the regulatory landscape so you can focus on what you do best—crafting exceptional beverages.