Compliance guides
Label terms, FDA requirements, state-by-state rules, and reformulating a European recipe.
FDA Labeling for Non-Alcoholic Beer Under 0.5% ABV
What goes on the can: Nutrition Facts panel, ingredient list, the 0.5% ABV statement and which alcohol claims are allowed.
Nick Bodkins · Co-founder, Avenor · New York — Updated September 23, 2026
Read the guide →Do You Need a License to Sell Non-Alcoholic Beer?
In most states no license is needed to sell non-alcoholic beer, wine or spirits.
FDA Labeling Requirements: Imported Beverage Checklist
The 7 FDA label elements every imported non-alcoholic beverage needs — plus the checklist EU brands use before their first container ships.
What "Alcohol-Free", "Non-Alcoholic" and "0.0%" Mean
Three terms, three legal meanings in the US: alcohol-free is reserved for 0.0% ABV, non-alcoholic covers anything under 0.5%, and 0.0% is the strictest.
California Prop 65 for Imported Alcohol-Free Drinks
Prop 65 covers any drink sold to Californians.
Selling EU Organic Alcohol-Free Drinks in the US
Yes: EU-certified organic drinks sell as organic in the US under the 2012 equivalence arrangement, with an NOP Import Certificate and a certified importer.
US Bottle Deposit Laws for Imported Alcohol-Free Drinks
Ten US states charge a bottle deposit.
Reformulating an EU Beverage Recipe for the US Market
**Almost every EU beverage formula requires at least minor adjustment before it can be legally sold in the US.** The FDA and EFSA operate parallel but distinct systems — an ingredient approved by…
What Health Claims You Can Make on a Drink Label
The FDA allows structure/function claims like “supports relaxation” on non-alcoholic drinks, but disease or therapeutic claims are off-limits.
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Written by
Nick Bodkins
Co-founder, Avenor · New York
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