During the pandemic, many countries have seen dramatic increases in the sale of alcoholic beverages for off premise consumption.  Even as bars and restaurants in many places were forced to close, liquor stores saw increases in the sale of alcohol to be consumed at home.  In the US, many states considered liquor stores to be essential businesses that were not forced to close during the lockdowns.  In the US, sales of spirits such as gin and tequila rose considerably.  Global sales of wine and beer are also up by 60% – 75% over the same time last year according to several news outlets.

Many countries are becoming stricter with regards to import tariffs and have begun vigorous enforcement around country of origin and labeling requirements.  Some countries such as France, Scotland and Australia have long had detailed COOL (country of origin labeling) criteria, but other countries are also enacting them. Some countries such as India are changing ABV (alcohol by volume) requirements for beer, and others such as Vietnam are levying higher taxes on wine out of concern for the health of their citizens.

Other regulations around alcoholic beverages include allergen and labeling requirements.  Flavored spirits and pre-mixed cocktails in particular are more likely to contain allergens based on the additional ingredients used.  The Decernis consulting team has expertise in global regulations for alcoholic beverages and has also done work around the standards of identity for many alcoholic beverage categories. Contact us under here for further information.

Posted on 5 August 2020