🏷️ Label, law and health

A spirit drink label speaks the language of law: the legal name denotes an EU category (for example whisky, rum, gin), and strength in % ABV is mandatory for drinks above 1.2%. Age may be stated only by the youngest component and only if maturation is under state supervision, which protects the consumer from being misled.

Other rules: compound terms are allowed only when all the alcohol comes from the named drink; an ingredient list is not required for drinks above 1.2% ABV; health claims on them are prohibited. Strength is given as a number with no more than one decimal place, measured at 20 °C.

Fixed terms: “single malt” means one distillery and malted barley only; “dry” for gin means up to 0.1 g/l of sugar; “produced from…” for vodka not made from potatoes or cereals; “obtained by maceration and distillation” for berry spirits; “cream” for liqueurs with milk. The name “spirit drink” belongs to drinks outside the 44 categories.

In the USA names are regulated by the TTB (27 CFR, part 5), in Scotland by the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, in Mexico by NOM standards, in Brazil by the cachaça decree.

Why it matters to you. Read the legal name, country, strength, the words distilled and produced from, and the age. Colour proves nothing: caramel is allowed. WHO (2023): there is no safe amount of alcohol that does not affect health; alcohol is classified as a group 1 carcinogen.

Other sections of this topic: How spirits are made; Whisky; Grape brandies; Rum and sugarcane spirits; Vodka and grain spirits; Liqueurs; Gin and juniper spirits; Agave: tequila and mezcal. All sections are gathered on the “Spirits” page.