Industry Circular

Number: 61-52

Date: December 28, 1961

Office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division

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LABELING OF MALT BEVERAGES FOR SALE IN WASHINGTON STATE.

Brewers, and others concerned:

Purpose. The purpose of this Circular is to inform brewers that the laws of the State of Washington have been amended to eliminate the requirement that an alcoholic content statement must appear on the labels of malt beverages sold in that State.

Background. The laws of the State of Washington previously required all malt beverages to be labeled to show the maximum alcoholic content. Effective February 21, 1961, however, the laws of that State were amended to delete this requirement.

The Federal Alcohol Administration Act (27 U.S.C. 205(e)) and Section 7.26 of 27 CFR Part 7 provide that the alcoholic content of malt beverages shall not be stated on labels unless required by state law. Accordingly, since the laws of the State of Washington no longer require an alcoholic content statement, alcoholic content statements are prohibited by Federal law and regu- lations on labels of malt beverages shipped into that State.

Conclusion. In order to permit an orderly transition to new labels, present stocks of labels for malt beverages bearing alcoholic content statements in the manner previously required under Washington law may be used on containers shipped into Washington until May 1, 1962. After such date, statements of alcoholic content should be omitted from all labels affixed to containers filled for ship- ment into the State of Washington.

Inquiries. Correspondence in regard to this industry circular should refer to its number and be addressed to the Director, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax (CP:AT:B), Washington 25, D. C.

Dwight E. Avis

Director, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division