I understand that alcoholic beverages are regulated by the ATF and not the FDA, which is why nutrition fact labels aren’t legally required on alcoholic beverages, but why does this carry over to NA beer?
It’s basically just beer-flavored soda. It has less than the required alcohol content (<0.5%) to be legally classified as an alcoholic beverage. Is it not regulated by the FDA?
The only clue I have is that Nutrition Fact labels appear on cans of NA beer made by companies that only produce NA beer (e.g. Athletic / Partake), but not NA beers produced by existing full-alcohol breweries (e.g. Heineken / Guinness). Is there some sort of “we also produce alcoholic beverages” loophole to avoid FDA regulation?
If so, would it be possible for Coca-Cola, who distributes alcoholic beverages (e.g. Topo Chico hard seltzer / Jack & Coke premixed cocktails), to get around the requirement for their regular sodas?
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NA beer is not basically “beer flavored soda.” The only thing the two have in common is carbonation and even that is produced differently in each. Soda is flavored syrup mixed with water that has been carbonated by forcing CO2 through it. NA beer is brewed the same as regular beer, and carbonation occurs during this process. For some NA beers, fermentation is arrested before significant amounts of alcohol form, while others are subjected to a vacuum to lower the boiling point so that the alcohol can be boiled out with a minimum effect of the flavor.
I wonder if it’s because there’s no lower limit on what’s considered “beer”, so some companies will choose to regulate it as a beer rather than as a soft drink? I know I’m carded whenever I buy NA beer at major retailers - but Whole Foods at least has it with the soft drinks (which may mean it’s 3.2 beer by MN legal standards in some cases)…? I have no idea but DeMorgan’s law says the best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it’s to post the wrong answer.
I was so curious how boolean logic was about to play into things haha
I know in my state NA beer is still considered to be beer. Have to be 21 to purchase, need a liquor license to sell it, etc.
As I recall it’s because the definition of beer in the state statute defines beer as a fermented drink with certain criteria like wheat, barley, hops, etc. as ingredients, and alcohol content not being one of the criteria.
It actually meant a local sober bar (a bar-like place that only serves NA drinks) had to go through the hassle and expense of getting a liquor license.
I understand that alcoholic beverages are regulated by the ATF and not the FDA,
Huh? Is beer an arm
We don’t care about health and wellbeing. We push drugs to keep the rich in place and the down on their luck slaves. We are built on destroying other lives for the power it gives us over them. You become a strong nation by controlling your people.
That’s nice and all but this doesn’t answer the actual question.
