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Selling beer, wine, cider and spirits in Australia

In Australia, alcoholic beverages follow the Food Standards Code: Standard 2.7.1 requires an alcohol content statement, the number of standard drinks and, above 1.15% ABV, a pregnancy warning label. Energy labelling becomes mandatory by 13 August 2028. Wine claims about vintage, variety and region are policed by Wine Australia, and beer and spirits are excisable goods.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Labelling
Food Standards Code, Standard 2.7.1
Standard drinks
Stated on drinks above 0.5% ABV
Pregnancy warning
Required above 1.15% ABV, in the prescribed form
Energy labelling
Gazetted 13 August 2025, transition to 13 August 2028
Wine claims
Wine Australia Act 2013 and the Label Integrity Program
Excise
Beer and spirits under the Excise Tariff Act 1921

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Does the product meet the definition of the drink it is sold as: beer, wine, spirit, liqueur? Read more
  2. 2Does the label state alcohol content and the number of standard drinks, accurately? Read more
  3. 3Does each layer of packaging carry the pregnancy warning label in the prescribed form? Read more
  4. 4Is an energy statement or nutrition information panel needed, and are the claims permitted? Read more
  5. 5For wine, can each vintage, variety and GI claim be traced through records? Read more
  6. 6Does manufacture need an excise licence? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Alcohol content, standard drinks and claims

What Standard 2.7.1 adds to the general label particulars.

  • Drinks above 1.15% ABV state alcohol content in mL/100 mL or as % alcohol by volume; at 0.5% to 1.15%, the statement reads to the effect of 'contains not more than X% alcohol by volume' (section 2.7.1—3).
  • The statement is accurate to within 0.3% ABV for beer, cider and perry, 0.5% for spirits, liqueurs and fortified wine, and 1.5% for wine and fruit wine.
  • Beverages above 0.5% ABV state the approximate number of standard drinks, to one decimal place up to 10 standard drinks (section 2.7.1—4).
  • A drink above 1.15% ABV must not be represented as low alcohol, and above 0.5% ABV the label must not say 'non intoxicating'.
  • Alcoholic beverages above 1.15% ABV may make nutrition content claims only about energy, carbohydrate, sugar or gluten content, and may not make health claims.
  • Energy labelling on packaged alcoholic beverages was gazetted on 13 August 2025, with a transition period ending on 13 August 2028.

How we help: Compliant Always reads your label for the alcohol statement, standard drinks figure and claims, and sets them beside your lab results and the tolerances that apply. Ask about this

Pregnancy warning labels

The mandatory warning on alcoholic beverages above 1.15% ABV.

  • Alcoholic beverages above 1.15% ABV carry a pregnancy warning label as a pictogram, or a pictogram and wording, with set form, legibility and design elements.
  • With more than one layer of packaging, the label goes on the outer package and on each individual unit, unless the unit's label is clearly visible through the outer package (section 2.7.1—8).
  • The transition ended on 31 July 2023. Optional alternative requirements for corrugated cardboard outer packaging were gazetted on 4 May 2023, with a transition to 1 February 2024.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the artwork for each layer of packaging with the product, so you can see which units and outers carry the warning. Ask about this

What each drink must be

Definitions in the product standards for beer, wine and spirits.

  • A food sold as beer must be beer: a product characterised by hops, made by yeast fermentation of an extract of malted or unmalted cereals.
  • A food sold as wine must be wine, from the fermentation of fresh grapes; wine product contains no less than 700 mL/L of wine.
  • A food sold as a spirit must be a spirit with at least 37% ABV, or 35% for tequila; a liqueur contains more than 15% ABV.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the specification and ABV analysis that show the product meets the definition it is sold under. Ask about this

Wine label integrity

Vintage, variety and geographical indication claims on Australian wine.

  • Wine labels are governed by the Wine Australia Act 2013 and Regulations 2018, the Food Standards Code, trade measurement law, the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and state Food Acts.
  • Vintage, variety and GI claims are optional, but if made, the blending rules in the Wine Australia Regulations apply and an auditable trail of records must back them.
  • Under the Label Integrity Program, everyone in the supply chain records 'one step forward' and 'one step back' within three days, and keeps records for seven years.
  • Selling, exporting or importing wine described with a protected term on the Register of Protected GIs and Other Terms that it is not entitled to is an offence, even with 'style' or 'method'.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the supply records behind each vintage, variety and GI claim with the wine and lot, dated, so the trail is on record. Ask about this

Excise

Duty on beer and spirits made in Australia.

  • Beer and spirits are listed in the Schedule to the Excise Tariff Act 1921, with rates that vary by alcohol strength and packaging for beer.
  • Other excisable beverages are drinks above 1.15% ABV other than beer, brandy and wine.
  • Only a person holding a manufacturer licence may manufacture excisable goods (section 25 of the Excise Act 1901).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the ABV results and packaging details that excise classification turns on with each product. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
BrandThe label: alcohol content, standard drinks, pregnancy warning and any claims.Each label element read against Standard 2.7.1, with the gaps shown.
ProducerMaking the drink to its definition, an excise licence where needed, and wine records.Specifications, ABV results and supply records kept with each lot.
ImporterDrinks that meet the Code, an English trade description and import records.Supplier documents read and dated before the goods arrive.
PackagerPregnancy warnings on outers and units, and Label Integrity Program records for wine it handles.Packaging artwork and records kept together by lot.

States and territories

Food standards are developed by FSANZ and adopted without variation by the states and territories, whose agencies and local councils enforce the Food Standards Code. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry enforces it at the border.

The Australian Consumer Law is enforced by the ACCC for widespread issues and by state and territory consumer protection agencies, which handle individual complaints.

Questions businesses ask

What must an alcohol label show in Australia?
The general particulars of Standard 1.2.1, plus a statement of alcohol content, the number of standard drinks for drinks above 0.5% ABV, and a pregnancy warning label above 1.15% ABV, under Standard 2.7.1.
Is the pregnancy warning label mandatory in Australia?
Yes, for alcoholic beverages above 1.15% ABV. The transition ended on 31 July 2023, and the label must follow the prescribed form, legibility and design elements.
Do alcoholic drinks need a nutrition panel in Australia?
Not unless a claim requiring nutrition information is made. Energy labelling was gazetted on 13 August 2025 for packaged alcoholic beverages, with a transition period ending on 13 August 2028.
Can beer or wine carry a 'low sugar' claim?
Yes. Drinks above 1.15% ABV may make nutrition content claims about energy, carbohydrate, sugar or gluten content. Claims about individual sugars such as fructose are prohibited, and health claims are not permitted.
How accurate must the alcohol statement be?
Within 0.3% ABV for beer, cider and perry, 0.5% for spirits, liqueurs and fortified wine, and 1.5% for wine and fruit wine (section 2.7.1—3).
What alcohol content must a spirit have in Australia?
A food sold as a spirit contains no less than 37% ABV, or 35% for tequila (section 2.7.5—3).
What is the Label Integrity Program?
A scheme under Part VIA of the Wine Australia Act 2013. Anyone who grows, makes, supplies or receives wine goods keeps records backing vintage, variety and GI claims, made within three days and kept for seven years.
Can I call my wine 'Champagne style' in Australia?
No. Selling, exporting or importing wine described with a protected term it is not entitled to is an offence, even with words such as 'style', 'type' or 'method'.
Do I need an excise licence to brew beer or distil spirits?
Beer and spirits are excisable goods under the Excise Tariff Act 1921, and only a person holding a manufacturer licence may manufacture excisable goods (section 25, Excise Act 1901).
How does Compliant Always help with selling in Australia?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, including the Commonwealth, state and territory layers in Australia. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product and keeps the documents behind each one ready. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in Australia and what your paperwork needs to show.

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