Beverage Alcohol Laboratory (BAL)

The National Laboratory Center is a state-of-the-art-facility in Beltsville, Maryland, which houses the Beverage Alcohol, Nonbeverage Products, and Tobacco Laboratories. These laboratories provide the Bureau with scientific and technical support. 

The Beverage Alcohol Laboratory supports testing of beverage alcohol products that include:

• Product classification for collection of revenue and to protect the public
• Contaminants, adulterants, and unauthorized additives
• Misbranding, mislabeling, and fraud investigations
• Product diversion including smuggling, counterfeit products and moonshine investigations
• Product safety investigations