Standard 2.7.1 Labelling of alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol

Note 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.

Note 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.

Division 1 Preliminary

2.7.1—1 Name

  This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.7.1 – Labelling of alcoholic beverages and food containing alcohol.

 Note Commencement:
This Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.

2.7.1—2 Definitions

Note  In this Code (see section 1.1.2—2):

average energy content means the average energy content calculated in accordance with section  S11—2.

individual unit means a container that:

1.       is an innermost package; and
2.       contains a beverage with more than 1.15% alcohol by volume.

pregnancy warning label means either the pregnancy warning pictogram or the pregnancy warning mark.

pregnancy warning mark means the following image comprising

1.       the pregnancy warning pictogram,
2.       the signal words “Pregnancy Warning” and
3.       the statement “Alcohol can cause lifelong harm to your baby”,

all within a border.

pregnancy warning pictogram means the following pictogram with the silhouette of a pregnant woman holding a wine glass within a circle with a strikethrough:

prescribed alcoholic beverage means a beverage that:

1.              has more than 1.15% alcohol by volume; and
2.              either:

 (i) is for retail sale; or

 (ii) is sold as suitable for retail sale without any further processing, packaging or labelling; and

(c)  does not include a beverage that:

 (i) is sold for retail sale; and

 (ii) is packaged in the presence of the purchaser

prescribed beverage means:

(a) a *standardised alcoholic beverage; or

(b) a beverage containing no less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

serving means an amount of the food which constitutes one normal serving when prepared according to manufacturer’s directions or when the food requires no further preparation before consumption, and in the case of a formulated meal replacement is equivalent to one meal.

size of type means the measurement from the base to the top of a letter or numeral.

small package means a package with a surface area of less than 100 cm2.

standard drink, for a beverage containing alcohol, means the amount that contains 10 grams of ethanol when measured at 20°C.

Division 2 Requisite statements

2.7.1—3 Statement of alcohol content

 (1) For the labelling provisions, a statement of the alcohol content is required for:

 (a) a food (including an alcoholic beverage) that contains more than 1.15% alcohol by volume; or

 (b) an alcoholic beverage that contains 1.15% or less alcohol by volume; or

 (c) a beverage that contains not less than 0.5% but not more than 1.15% alcohol by volume.

 Note The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1.

 (2) For paragraph (1)(a), the alcohol content must be expressed in mL/100 g, mL/100 mL or as the percentage of alcohol by volume.

 (3) For paragraph (1)(b) or (c), the alcohol content must be expressed in words to the effect ‘CONTAINS NOT MORE THAN X% ALCOHOL BY VOLUME’.

 (4) The statement must be accurate to within:

 (a) for beer, cider or perry—0.3% alcohol by volume;

 (b) for spirits, liqueurs, fortified wine, fortified fruit or vegetable wine, and all other alcoholic beverages containing more than 1.15% alcohol by volume—0.5% alcohol by volume;

 (c) for wine and fruit wine (including sparkling forms), and wine products and fruit or vegetable wine products containing more than 6.5% alcohol by volume—1.5% alcohol by volume.

2.7.1—4 Statement of the number of standard drinks

 (1) For the labelling provisions, a statement of the approximate number of *standard drinks in the food for sale is required for a food that:

 (a) is capable of being consumed as a beverage; and

 (b) contains more than 0.5% alcohol by volume, measured at 20C.

 Note The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1.

 (1A) The statement must not appear in:

 (a) an energy statement required by paragraph 1.2.1—8(1)(za); or

 (b) a nutrition information panel.

 Note An energy statement required by paragraph 1.2.1—8(1)(za) must state the approximate number of standard drinks equivalent to one serving of the prescribed beverage. Section 2.7.1—4F requires a nutrition information panel for certain prescribed beverages to state the approximate number of standard drinks equivalent to one serving of the beverage concerned.

 (2) The statement must be accurate to:

 (a) for a food for sale containing 10 or less *standard drinks—the first decimal place; or

 (b) for a food for sale containing more than 10 standard drinks—the nearest whole number of standard drinks.

 (3) A statement is not required for beverages packaged prior to 20 December 2002.

2.7.1—4A Energy statement

 (1) For the labelling provisions, an energy statement is required for a *prescribed beverage.

 Note The labelling provisions are set out in Standard 1.2.1.

 (2) An energy statement is not required for a *prescribed beverage that:

 (a) has a nutrition information panel required by Standard 1.2.8; or

 (b)  has a voluntary nutrition information panel in accordance with section 2.7.1—4E; or

 (c) is a food for sale in a *small package.

 (3) An energy statement required by subsection (1) must comply with sections 2.7.1—4B, 2.7.1—4C and 2.7.1—4D.

2.7.1—4B What must be in an energy statement 

 (1) The energy statement must contain the following information:

 (a) the number of servings in the package; and

 (b)  the *average quantity of the beverage in a serving expressed in millilitres; and

 (c) the *average energy content expressed in kilojoules or both in kilojoules and in kilocalories per:

 (i) serving of the beverage; and

 (ii) 100 mL of the beverage; and

 (d) the approximate number of *standard drinks equivalent to one serving of the beverage.

 (2) The number required by paragraph (1)(d) must be accurate to the first decimal place.

 (3) The energy statement must be set out in the following format unless this Code provides otherwise:

2.7.1—4C How to express particular matters in an energy statement

 (1) The energy statement must clearly indicate that any average quantities set out in the statement are average quantities.

 (2) In an energy statement, ‘package’ may be replaced by ‘can’, ‘bottle’ or any other word or words that accurately describes the package containing the *prescribed beverage.

 (3) The *average energy content must be expressed in an energy statement to not more than 3 significant figures.

 (4) If the *average energy content per serving or 100 mL of the *prescribed beverage is less than 40 kJ, that average energy content may be expressed in the energy statement as ‘LESS THAN 40 kJ’.

2.7.1—4D Percentage daily intake information

 (1) The energy statement may include information relating to the percentage daily intake of energy in the statement.

 (2) If information relating to percentage daily intake of energy is included, the energy statement must include:

 (a) the percentage daily intake of energy per serving, calculated using 8700 kJ as the reference value; and

 (b) either of the following statements:

 (i) ‘based on an average adult diet of 8700 kJ’; or

 (ii) ‘Percentage daily intakes are based on an average adult diet of 8700 kJ’.

 (3) For subsection (2), an example energy statement with percentage daily intake information is:

2.7.1—4E Voluntary nutrition information panel for food containing alcohol

 (1) This section applies to a food that:

 (a) contains more than 1.15% alcohol by volume; and

 (b) is not required by Standard 1.2.8 to have a nutrition information panel.

 (2) The label on a package of the food may include a nutrition information panel that is not required by Standard 1.2.8 to be included on that label (a voluntary nutrition information panel).

 (3) The voluntary nutrition information panel referred to in subsection (2) must:

 (a) contain the information as required by each of the following provisions for a mandatory nutrition information panel:

 (i) paragraphs 1.2.8—6(1)(a), (b) and (c);

 (ii) subparagraphs 1.2.8—6(1)(d)(i), (ii) and (iii);

 (iii) if a *prescribed beverage—section 2.7.1—4F; and

1.            be set out in the format in section S12—2.

2.7.1—4F Nutrition information panel for a prescribed beverage – number of standard drinks in a serving

 (1) The nutrition information panel for a *prescribed beverage, other than a prescribed beverage to which subsection (3) applies, must state the approximate number of *standard drinks equivalent to one serving of that beverage.

 (2) The nutrition information panel for a *prescribed beverage to which subsection (3) applies may state the approximate number of *standard drinks equivalent to one serving of that beverage.

 (3) This subsection applies to a *prescribed beverage:

 (a) that *bears a label with the statement required by section 2.7.1—4; and

 (b) the number of *standard drinks declared in that statement is the same as the approximate number of standard drinks equivalent to one serving of that beverage.                  

 Note  Section 2.7.1—4 and the labelling provisions in Standard 1.2.1 require the labelling for a food for sale that is capable of being consumed as a beverage and contains more than 0.5% alcohol by volume, measured at 20°C, to state the approximate number of standard drinks in that food for sale.

 (4) The number stated in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) must be:

 (a) accurate to the first decimal place; and

 (b) stated in the nutrition information panel in brackets and immediately after the entry in the panel for the *average quantity of the food in a serving.

Division 3 Restricted representations

2.7.1—5 Restriction on representations of low alcohol

  An alcoholic beverage which contains more than 1.15% alcohol by volume must not be represented as a low alcohol beverage.

2.7.1—6 Restriction on representation of ‘non-intoxicating’

  The label on a package of a beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol by volume must not include the words ‘non intoxicating’ or words of similar meaning.

2.7.1—7 Restriction on representation as non-alcoholic

  A food containing alcohol must not be represented in a form which expressly or by implication suggests that the product is a non-alcoholic confection or non-alcoholic beverage.

Division 4 Pregnancy warning labels

2.7.1—8 Requirement to display a pregnancy warning label

 (1) A *prescribed alcoholic beverage that has one layer of packaging must display a *pregnancy warning label on its package.

 (2) A *prescribed alcoholic beverage that has more than one layer of packaging must display a *pregnancy warning label on:

 (a) the outer package; and

 (b)  either:

 (i) the *individual unit; or

 (ii) each *individual unit—if the packaging includes more than one individual unit.

 (3) Subsection (2) does not require a *pregnancy warning label to be on the outer package if a pregnancy warning label on an *individual unit is clearly discernible and not obscured by the outer package.

 (4) Subsection (2) does not require a *pregnancy warning label to be on the bladder within a box of a *prescribed alcoholic beverage.

2.7.1—9 Pregnancy warning label for one layer of packaging

 (1)  A *prescribed alcoholic beverage that:

1.            is required by subsection 2.7.1—8(1) to display a *pregnancy warning label on its package; and

  (b)  is listed in Column 1 of the table to subsection (3):

 must display the pregnancy warning label listed in Column 2 of that table on its package.

 (2) The pregnancy warning label required by subsection (1) must comply with any corresponding size requirements listed in Columns 3, 4 and 5 of the table to subsection (3).

 (3) The table to this subsection is:

Pregnancy warning label required

2.7.1—10 Pregnancy warning label for an outer package

 (1)  A *prescribed alcoholic beverage that:

1.            is required by paragraph 2.7.1—8(2)(a) to display a *pregnancy warning label on its outer package; and

  (b)  is listed in Column 1 of the table to subsection (3);

 must display the pregnancy warning label listed in Column 2 of that table on its outer package.

 (2) The pregnancy warning label required by subsection (1) must comply with any corresponding size requirements listed in Columns 3, 4 and 5 of the table to subsection (3).

 (2A)  Subsection (2) does not apply to a *pregnancy warning mark to which section 2.7.1—13 applies.

 (3) The table to this subsection is:

Pregnancy warning label required

2.7.1—11 Pregnancy warning label for an individual unit

 (1) A *prescribed alcoholic beverage that:

1.            is required by paragraph 2.7.1—8(2)(b) to display a *pregnancy warning label on one or more individual units; and

  (b)  is an individual unit that is listed in Column 1 of the table to subsection (3);

 must display the pregnancy warning label listed in Column 2 of that table on each such individual unit.

 (2) The pregnancy warning label required by subsection (1) must comply with any corresponding size requirements listed in Columns 3, 4 and 5 of the table to subsection (3).

 (3) The table to this subsection is:

Pregnancy warning label required

2.7.1—12 Required form for pregnancy warning labels

 (1) Subject to subsection (10), a *pregnancy warning label required by this Division to be displayed must comply with this section.

 (2) The background of the *pregnancy warning label must be in the colour white.

 (3) The circle and strikethrough of the *pregnancy warning pictogram must be in the colour red.

 (4) The silhouette of a pregnant woman on the *pregnancy warning pictogram must be in the colour black.

 (5) The signal words of the *pregnancy warning mark must be:

(a) in the colour red; and

(b) in bold font; and

(c) in a sans-serif typeface; and

(d) in capital letters; and

(e) in English.

 (6) The statement of the *pregnancy warning mark must be:

(a) in the colour black; and

(b) in a sans-serif typeface; and

(c) in sentence case; and

(d) in English.

 (7) The border of the *pregnancy warning mark must be in the colour black.

 (8) The *pregnancy warning mark must be displayed on the package with a clear space that:

 (a) surrounds the outside of the border of the pregnancy warning mark; and

 (b) is at least 3mm in width.

 (9) The *pregnancy warning label must be displayed as a whole and without modification.

 (10) This section does not apply to a *pregnancy warning mark to which section 2.7.1—13 applies.

2.7.1—13 Optional pregnancy warning mark for corrugated cardboard outer packaging

 (1)  This section applies to a *pregnancy warning mark that:

                                                          (a)  is required by subsection 2.7.1—10(1) to be displayed on the outer package of a *prescribed alcoholic beverage; and

                                                          (b) is displayed on a *prescribed alcoholic beverage to which subsection (2) applies; and

                                                          (c) has been printed on the outer package of the *prescribed alcoholic beverage using a post-print (flexographic) printing process; and

                                                          (d) complies with this section.

 (2) This subsection applies to a *prescribed alcoholic beverage that has:

                                                          (a) packaging that includes more than one *individual unit; and

                                                          (b) an outer package that:

                                                                              (i) is made of corrugated cardboard; and

                                                                              (ii) has an outside liner made of kraft, recycled or white paper.

 (3) The *pregnancy warning pictogram must be at least 14mm in diameter.

 (4) The *size of type of the signal words of the *pregnancy warning mark must be at least 4.4 mm.

 (5) The *size of type of the statement of the *pregnancy warning mark must be at least 3.4 mm.

 (6) The background of the *pregnancy warning mark must be in the same colour as  the outside liner.

 Note Subparagraph 2.7.1—13(2)(b)(ii) requires the outside liner to be made of kraft, recycled or white paper, the colours of which are brown, grey or white.

 (7) The circle and strikethrough of the *pregnancy warning pictogram must be in the colour black.

 (8) The silhouette of a pregnant woman on the *pregnancy warning pictogram must be in the colour black.

 (9) The strikethrough of the *pregnancy warning pictogram must be displayed with a clear space on either side of the strikethrough so both the strikethrough and silhouette of a pregnant woman on the *pregnancy warning pictogram are clearly legible.

 (10) The signal words of the *pregnancy warning mark must be:

(a) in the colour black; and

(b) in bold font; and

(c) in a sans-serif typeface; and

(d) in capital letters; and

(e) in English.

 (11) The statement of the *pregnancy warning mark must be:

(a) in the colour black; and

(b) in a sans-serif typeface; and

(c) in sentence case; and

(d) in English.

 (12) The border of the *pregnancy warning mark must be in the colour black.

 (13) The *pregnancy warning mark must be displayed on the package with a clear space that:

 (a) surrounds the outside of the border of the pregnancy warning mark; and

 (b) is at least 3mm in width.

 (14) The *pregnancy warning mark must be displayed as a whole and without modification.

 (15) In this section, a post-print (flexographic) printing process means the pregnancy warning mark is printed directly on to the outside liner of corrugated cardboard packaging using flexible raised image printing plates.

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Application, saving and transitional provisions

The table below details information on application, saving or transitional provisions in instruments affecting this Standard.

Amendment History

The Amendment History provides information about each amendment to the Standard. The information includes commencement or cessation information for relevant amendments.

These amendments are made under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 unless otherwise indicated. Amendments do not have a specific date for cessation unless indicated as such.

About this compilation

This is compilation No. 4 of Standard 2.7.1 as in force on 13 August 2025 (up to Amendment No. 241). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.

Prepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 13 August 2025.

Uncommenced amendments or provisions ceasing to have effect

To assist stakeholders, the effect of any uncommenced amendments or provisions which will cease to have effect, may be reflected in the Standard as shaded boxed text with the relevant commencement or cessation date. These amendments will be reflected in a compilation registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments including or omitting those amendments and provided in the Amendment History once the date is passed.

The following abbreviations may be used in the table below:

ad = added or inserted am = amended

exp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed

rs = repealed and substituted

Standard 2.7.1 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00469 –- 1 April 2015) and has since been amended as follows: