Frequently Asked Questions
General Alcohol | Alcohol Labeling & Formulation | Organic Alcohol | Spirits | Wine | Beer | COLAsOnline
DISCLAIMER - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) attempts to keep the answers to these questions current and accurate. However, ATF does not guarantee that this information is 100 percent accurate. In addition, the information may be modified, superseded, or made obsolete by recent changes in laws and regulations.
If you
want to know about recent changes in the law and regulations, you may visit the
following websites: http://thomas.loc.gov/
and http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/
aces140.html. If you are concerned with the accuracy of this information,
please contact ATF. Also, you may contact
your legal advisor.
GENERAL ALCOHOL
G2: What are the federal and state excise taxes imposed on alcohol (spirits, wine or beer)?
G5: What is required to sell alcoholic beverages (spirits, wine or beer) on the Internet?
G6: Does ATF have information or studies about the effects of consuming alcohol?
G7: How does ATF inform people of proposed and final changes to the regulations?
G8: Can a business get back the tax money from alcohol or tobacco if the product is destroyed in a disaster such as a fire, earthquake, flood, or tornado?
ALCOHOL LABELING & FORMULATION
A2: Is there a fee for label approval? If so, how much
does it cost?
A5: How Long Does It Take To Get Label Approval?
A6: Must I have an ATF permit before I can apply for label
approval?
A7: How do I secure an ATF permit or a brewers notice?
A8: What does it mean when your labels are "approved?"
A10: How do I request informal or preliminary comments
on a proposed label?
A12: How can I check the status of my label application?
A13: Can I electronically submit my label application?
A14: What is a statement of process?
A15: What American Viticultural Areas are already approved?
ORGANIC ALCOHOL
OA 2: Will I have to change my label to comply with these new regulations?
OA 3:When does my product have to comply with these new regulations?
OA 5: How will the labeling of my organic products differ under the NOP regulations?
OA 6: Do I still submit my COLA applications to ATF?
OA 7: Will USDA need to review my label?
SPIRITS
S1: How do I convert bottles of distilled spirits in metric sizes to U.S. gallons?
S2: What is proof, and how do I figure the proof gallons of distilled spirits?
S4: What requirements are there for people who sell stills?
WINE
W1: How do I convert bottles of wine in metric sizes to U.S. gallons?
W2: How do I apply to get a grape growing area designated as a viticultural area?
W3: What American viticultural areas are already approved?
W4: What are the federal guidelines for home winemakers' centers?
W5: What are the rules covering on premises sales and tasting of wine?
W6: What are the rules for computing and paying the tax on wine?
W7: What are the rules for producing and selling fermented cider?
BEER
B2: How do I determine the barrel equivalent of beer containers?
B3: Must ATF approve my operations when I intend to make beer?
B4: If ATF must approve my operations to make beer, how do I apply?
B5: When I have applied, can I start to make beer?
B6: Where can I find surety (insurance) companies who may provide a bond?
B7: How much does it cost if ATF must approve my operations to make beer?
B8: Does ATF have the regulations and forms for beer on the Internet?
COLAsOnline
C3: When will COLAS Online be available?
C4: What are the objectives of COLAS Online?
C5: Will I be required to file COLAS electronically?
C6: What are the advantages to filing COLAs electronically?
C7: What programs will I need to install on my computer in order to use COLAs Online?
C8: What is required to register for COLAs Online?
C9: What are the steps for filing a label application electronically?
C10: Will I be able to use third party filers to file label applications electronically?
C11: Will users be able to check the status of their eApplications?
C12: What is the difference between the status "needs correction" and "rejected"?
C14: Will ATF electronically notify the States and Customs of approved COLAs?
C16: Will COLAs Online reduce the amount of time it takes to receive label approval?
C17: Will I be able to file Formulas and Pre-Import approvals electronically?
C18: Will COLAs Online improve the consistency of
decisions made relating to
label applications?
C19: How will COLAs Online affect customer service?