PART 16—ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE HEALTH WARNING STATEMENT Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205, 215, 218; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note. Source: T.D. ATF-294, 55 FR 5421, Feb. 14, 1990, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—Scope § 16.1 General. The regulations in this part relate to a health warning statement on labels of containers of alcoholic beverages. § 16.2 Territorial extent. This part applies to the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States. Subpart B—Definitions § 16.10 Meaning of terms. As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires, terms shall have the meaning ascribed in this section. Act. Alcoholic beverage. Bottle. Bottler. Brand label. Container. Health. Person. Sale and distribution. State. State law. TTB. United States. Use of other terms. [T.D. ATF-294, 55 FR 5421, Feb. 14, 1990, as amended by T.D. ATF-425, 65 FR 11892, Mar. 7, 2000; T.D. TTB-44, 71 FR 16925, Apr. 4, 2006] Subpart C—Health Warning Statement Requirements for Alcoholic Beverages § 16.20 General. (a) Domestic products. (b) Imported products. § 16.21 Mandatory label information. 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) § 16.22 General requirements. (a) Legibility. (2) The first two words of the statement required by § 16.21, i.e., “GOVERNMENT WARNING,” shall appear 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. Minimum required type size for warning statement Maximum number of characters per inch 1 millimeter 40 2 millimeters 25 3 millimeters 12 (b) Size of type. (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. [T.D. ATF-294, 55 FR 5421, Feb. 14, 1990, as amended by T.D. 372, 61 FR 20723, May 8, 1996; T.D. TTB-91, 76 FR 5477, Feb. 1, 2011] Subpart D—General Provisions § 16.30 Certificates of label approval. Certificates of label/bottle approval or certificates of exemption from label approval on TTB Form 5100.31, issued pursuant to parts 4, 5, and 7 of this chapter for imported and domestically bottled wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages, shall not be approved with respect to such beverage bottled on and after November 18, 1989, unless the label for the container of such beverage bears the health warning statement required. [T.D. ATF-294, 55 FR 5421, Feb. 14, 1990, as amended by T.D. ATF-425, 65 FR 11892, Mar. 7, 2000] § 16.31 Exports. The regulations in this part shall not apply with respect to alcoholic beverages that are produced, imported, bottled, or labeled for export from the United States, or for delivery to a vessel or aircraft, as supplies, for consumption beyond the jurisdiction of the internal revenue laws of the United States: Provided, § 16.32 Preemption. No statement relating to alcoholic beverages and health, other than the statement required by § 16.21, shall be required under State law to be placed on any container of an alcoholic beverage, or on any box, carton, or other package, irrespective of the material from which made, that contains such a container. § 16.33 Civil penalties; adjustments. (a) General. https://www.ttb.gov/laws-regulations-and-public-guidance/labeling-act-penalty (b) Notice of cost-of-living adjustment. Federal Register (c) Applicability of increases in penalty. Federal Register [T.D.TTB-138, 81 FR 43065, July 1, 2016, as amended by T.D. TTB-196, 89 FR 87937, Nov. 6, 2024]