- Every market wants the same core: name, strength, volume, allergens, lot mark and a responsible address. The differences are the address (UK or EU), the language, the warnings and the recycling marks.
- The UK's one post-Brexit change that catches brands out: the address on the label must be in the UK. Shelfdrop acts as that address for the brands it imports.
- France needs the pregnancy pictogram, Italy needs material codes and disposal lines on every packaging component, Ireland's cancer warning is deferred to 2028, and the US needs a COLA and the Government Warning.
- Bottle sizes: nine prescribed sizes in the UK and EU, and since January 2025 the US accepts 700 ml among 26 standards of fill, so one bottle can serve both sides of the Atlantic.
Pick a market. Each tab lists what the label must carry, the national extras, and what we do about it. The comparison table at the end puts them side by side. Rules change, and we keep this page updated; still, check the current regulation or ask us before you print.
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The UK keeps the assimilated EU food-information rules with two changes of its own: the responsible business address must now be in the UK, and the FSA, not the Commission, writes the guidance. Spirits follow the UK Spirit Drinks Regulations for names like "gin", "whisky" and "rum".
- Name of the drinkThe legal name or sales denomination: a protected category name (London gin, Scotch whisky, rum) only if the product meets its definition. Fancy names sit alongside, not instead.
- Alcoholic strength"40% vol" (or "alc. 40% vol"), to one decimal place, in the same field of vision as the name and volume. Permitted tolerance for spirits is ±0.3% vol.
- Net quantityIn ml, cl or l, in the same field of vision as the name and strength. Minimum character height scales with pack size (3 mm for 50 to 200 ml, 4 mm to 1 l, 6 mm above 1 l). The ℮ mark is optional in the UK.
- AllergensDeclared and emphasised (bold) even without an ingredients list: milk in cream liqueurs, sulphites above 10 mg/l in wine, nuts, egg, gluten in some beers.
- Lot or batch markPrefixed "L" unless clearly distinct, or a best-before date showing day, month and year. Drinks above 10% vol do not need a date of minimum durability.
- UK business addressThe name and UK address of the food business operator responsible for the product. Since 24 January 2024 an EU-only address no longer counts. For imported brands this is normally the importer: Shelfdrop acts as that address for the brands it imports.
- Country of originRequired where its absence would mislead, and for spirits with a geographical name. Scotch, Irish whiskey, cognac and tequila carry it by definition.
- Text sizeMandatory particulars at an x-height of at least 1.2 mm (0.9 mm where the largest surface is under 80 cm²), legible and indelible.
- Pregnancy and healthNo mandatory warning. The Chief Medical Officers' pregnancy advice, unit information and the Drinkaware mark are voluntary under the Portman Group code, and most UK retailers expect them.
- Bottle sizesSpirits between 100 ml and 2 l must use the prescribed sizes: 100, 200, 350, 500, 700, 1000, 1500, 1750 and 2000 ml. Miniatures under 100 ml and wine at 750 ml follow their own lists.
- Recycling marksNo mandatory on-pack recycling symbol for glass yet; the UK's extended producer responsibility scheme (pEPR) changes fees, not labels, for now.
What Shelfdrop does: we check every label against this list before stock is booked into bond, act as the UK address for brands we import, and relabel in bond where a market needs it.
European Union (baseline)
Regulation 1169/2011 on food information sets the baseline every member state shares. National rules add to it; they never remove from it. If your label passes the EU baseline you are most of the way to every mainland market, with the national extras below.
- Name of the drinkLegal name under the Spirit Drinks Regulation 2019/787 where a category applies (gin, vodka, rum, whisky), with the sales name in the language of the market.
- Alcoholic strength"% vol", to one decimal, in the same field of vision as the name and volume. Tolerance ±0.3% vol for spirits, ±0.5% for beer and wine.
- Net quantityIn ml, cl or l, with the ℮ mark if you use the EU estimated-quantity system. Same minimum heights as the UK.
- AllergensEmphasised in the market's language even with no ingredients list. "Contains sulphites" on wine above 10 mg/l.
- Lot markLot marking under Directive 2011/91/EU, prefixed "L" unless clearly distinct.
- EU operator addressThe name and address of the food business operator established in the EU under whose name the product is marketed, or the importer. For a UK brand that is the EU importer: the Netherlands hub route gives you one.
- LanguageMandatory particulars in a language easily understood in the market. In practice: the national language of each country you sell in, which usually means a back label per market or a multilingual back label.
- Text sizex-height of at least 1.2 mm; 0.9 mm on packs with a largest surface under 80 cm².
- Wine: energy and ingredientsSince 8 December 2023 wine labels carry an energy value (kcal) on pack, with the full nutrition declaration and ingredients list allowed off-pack via QR code. Spirits are not yet covered; the industry's voluntary scheme is widely used.
- Bottle sizesDirective 2007/45/EC prescribes nine sizes for spirits from 100 ml to 2 l: 100, 200, 350, 500, 700, 1000, 1500, 1750, 2000 ml. Wine 750 ml and its own list. Japanese single-distilled shochu is allowed in its traditional 720 ml and 1.8 l.
- Recycling marksSet nationally: Italy and France have mandatory schemes (see their tabs); Germany and Spain rely on EPR registration rather than on-pack symbols for glass.
What Shelfdrop does: one EU-compliant back label is usually enough for Germany, Spain and the Netherlands; France and Italy need their extras. We apply them in bond at the hub before stock moves to each market.
France
France applies the EU baseline plus two of its own: the pregnancy warning, which it introduced in 2007 and is the most visible national rule in Europe, and the Triman sorting mark for most packaging.
- Pregnancy warningMandatory on every drink above 1.2% vol: either the sentence "La consommation de boissons alcoolisées pendant la grossesse, même en faible quantité, peut avoir des conséquences graves sur la santé de l'enfant" or the pictogram of a pregnant silhouette in a crossed red circle, in the same field of vision as the strength. The law sets no size, which is why so many are tiny; make it legible.
- LanguageFrench for every mandatory particular. English-only back labels are a routine reason for a listing to be pulled.
- Triman and sorting infoThe Triman logo and Info-tri sorting instructions apply to household packaging; glass beverage bottles are exempt from the logo, but a cardboard gift box or a plastic closure is not. Check the full packaging, not just the bottle.
- Social security levyNot a label item but a cost: spirits above 18% vol carry a contribution on top of excise. It is in our duty calculator.
- Everything in the EU tabStrength, volume, allergens, lot, EU operator address, text size and the prescribed bottle sizes all apply.
What Shelfdrop does: French back labels with the pictogram, applied in bond, and the levy built into the buy-price maths so there are no surprises on release.
Italy
Italy adds the most demanding packaging rule in the EU: environmental labelling of every packaging component under Legislative Decree 116/2020, in force for products placed on the market since 2023.
- Environmental labellingEach packaging component carries its material code (glass GL 70 or GL 71, a cork FOR 51, a PET closure PET 1, a paper label PAP 22) and a disposal instruction in Italian, such as "Raccolta vetro" and "Verifica le disposizioni del tuo Comune". Information may be placed on the label, the box or, for some components, digitally.
- LanguageItalian for every mandatory particular, including allergens and the disposal instructions.
- Everything in the EU tabStrength, volume, allergens, lot, EU operator address, text size and the prescribed bottle sizes all apply.
- No health warningItaly has no mandatory pregnancy or health warning on alcohol labels.
What Shelfdrop does: an Italian back label with the material codes and disposal lines for your exact bottle, closure and label stock, applied in bond before release in Italy.
Ireland
Ireland is the market to watch. Its Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 would make it the first country in the world to require a cancer warning on every alcohol label. Commencement was set for 22 May 2026 and has been deferred by the Irish government to 2028, reported as September 2028, citing economic circumstances and trade concerns.
- Health warnings (deferred to 2028)When in force: a warning that drinking alcohol causes liver disease, a warning of the link between alcohol and fatal cancers, the pregnancy pictogram, the energy value in kcal, the grams of alcohol in the container, and a link to the HSE's askaboutalcohol.ie, in a set format with a red border. Labels prepared now should leave space for it.
- LanguageEnglish or Irish. English-language UK labels are otherwise accepted.
- EU baselineIreland is an EU market: EU operator address, ℮ mark conventions and prescribed bottle sizes all apply. A UK-only address is not enough.
- Deposit returnIreland's deposit return scheme covers cans and PET bottles (Re-turn logo), not glass.
What Shelfdrop does: we track the commencement order and will give every brand we sell in Ireland a dated plan to relabel before the rule bites, rather than after.
United States
The United States is a different system: federal rules from the TTB under 27 CFR part 5 (labelling) and part 16 (the health warning), a certificate of label approval (COLA) before a label can be used, and state rules on top. Imperial-free, but it has its own list of bottle sizes.
- COLAEvery label needs a Certificate of Label Approval from the TTB before the product is sold. Importers apply; changes to mandatory information need a new COLA.
- Brand name, class and typeBrand name, the class/type designation (for example "London Dry Gin" or "Caribbean Rum") and alcohol content must appear together in one field of vision, on any side of the container.
- Alcohol contentAs a percentage by volume ("Alc. 40% by Vol."); proof may be added but must be distinguished from it. Tolerance ±0.3% for spirits.
- Net contentsMetric, and only in an authorised standard of fill (see bottle sizes).
- Importer"Imported by" with the importer's name and city and state, for products bottled before import.
- Country of originRequired on imports.
- Government warningThe exact text under 27 CFR part 16, in capitals and bold for the heading: GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. Minimum type sizes depend on container size.
- Sulphites and colour"Contains sulfites" where applicable; FD&C Yellow No. 5 and certain other additives must be declared.
- Type sizeMandatory information at least 2 mm high on containers over 200 ml; 1 mm on 200 ml and under.
- Bottle sizesStandards of fill: the long-standing 50, 100, 200, 375, 750 ml, 1 l and 1.75 l; 700, 720 and 900 ml and 1.8 l added in December 2020; and from January 2025 a further 15 including 187, 250, 331, 350, 355, 475, 500, 570, 710 and 945 ml, 1.5, 2, 3 and 3.75 l. A 70cl bottle can now serve the UK, EU and US without a separate run.
What Shelfdrop does: Shelfdrop does not distribute in the United States. For the brands we import into the UK from the US, the useful direction is the other way: we tell you what to change on a US label so it clears UK and EU rules.
Side by side
| UK | EU baseline | France | Italy | Ireland | US | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Responsible address | UK address | EU address | EU | EU | EU | Importer, US |
| Language | English | National language | French | Italian | English or Irish | English |
| Strength format | 40% vol | 40% vol | 40% vol | 40% vol | 40% vol | Alc. 40% by Vol. |
| Strength tolerance (spirits) | ±0.3% | ±0.3% | ±0.3% | ±0.3% | ±0.3% | ±0.3% |
| Pregnancy warning | Voluntary | No EU rule | Mandatory | No | Mandatory from 2028 | In Government Warning |
| Cancer / health warning | No | No | No | No | Mandatory from 2028 | Government Warning |
| Recycling mark | No | National | Triman (not glass) | Material codes, mandatory | Re-turn (cans, PET) | No |
| Pre-approval of label | No | No | No | No | No | COLA required |
| Spirit sizes 100 ml to 2 l | 9 prescribed | 9 prescribed | 9 | 9 | 9 | 26 standards of fill |
| Min text size | 1.2 mm x-height | 1.2 mm x-height | 1.2 mm | 1.2 mm | 1.2 mm | 2 mm (over 200 ml) |
Where brands get caught
- The address. An EU address on a UK label, or a UK address on an EU label, is the most common failure we see on stock arriving in bond. It is cheap to fix before printing and expensive to fix on 10,000 bottles.
- Protected names. "London Dry Gin" has a definition, "Scotch" has a definition, "Caribbean rum" is a geographical claim. If the liquid does not qualify, the name has to change, not the label.
- Allergens in liqueurs. Cream liqueurs carry milk; some amaretti and nut liqueurs carry nuts; some beers carry gluten and some wines carry egg or milk from fining. Without an ingredients list the allergen still has to be declared.
- Same field of vision. Name, strength and volume must be visible together without turning the bottle. A strength on the back label and a name on the front fails.
- Strength drift. A 40% label on a liquid that tests at 39.6% is within tolerance; 39.5% is not. Batch testing matters more than most brands expect.
- Gift boxes. The box is packaging too. Italy's material codes and France's Triman apply to the carton even when the bottle is exempt.
Sources
- Retained Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 and the Food Information Regulations 2014 (UK); FSA and trading standards guidance on alcoholic drinks labelling
- UK Spirit Drinks Regulations and Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks
- Directive 2007/45/EC on nominal quantities; Regulation (EU) 2018/1670 (shochu sizes); the Weights and Measures (Packaged Goods) Regulations 2006
- Directive 2011/91/EU on lot marking
- France: Code de la santé publique, arrêté of 2 October 2006 on the pregnancy warning; Code de l'environnement on Triman and Info-tri
- Italy: Decreto legislativo 116/2020 on environmental labelling; CONAI guidance
- Ireland: Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and the Department of Health's 2025 deferral
- United States: 27 CFR parts 5 and 16; TTB standards of fill final rules of December 2020 and January 2025