In March 2026, the TTB issued guidance on the use of AI-generated imagery in alcohol beverage advertising (read it here). The short version: AI-generated images used in alcohol marketing must comply with existing labeling and advertising regulations, including accurate representation of the product. This sounds obvious. But there's a nuance worth understanding if you're choosing how to produce your product imagery this year. The guidance applies broadly to any imagery categorized as AI-generated. The practical question it raises is how closely your vendor's process is anchored to your actual product. There's a meaningful difference between two approaches. A tool that generates a "wine bottle" from a text prompt or a rough photo produces something invented. A plausible bottle, not a representation of your real label, your specific closure, or your actual container. Whether it looks convincing is a separate question from whether it accurately represents your pro

The TTB is once again considering making nutrition and allergen info required on wine labels. Industry members are encouraged to submit their feedback directly to the TTB via their simple online forms. You have until August 15th to submit.    Tell the TTB by August 15th

The federal regulations governing the standards of fill for wine and spirits products were recently revised, expanding the number of container sizes available for packaging. Several new container sizes are now authorized for both wine and spirits. This update will allow for greater flexibility and innovation in packaging and aligns U.S. standards with those of the international marketplace. Another new federal regulation under the Standards of Identity for spirits is the establishment of “American Single Malt Whisky” as a recognized class and type. “American Single Malt Whisky” must be produced at a single distillery in the USA, using only 100% malted barley. This new regulation came as welcome news to domestic distilleries that have been making whisky that now qualifies to be designated “American Single Malt Whisky.” Subscribers to The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law have easy access to important updates like these. The Digest contains the full te

Struggling with TTB and CA ABC licensing? Our interactive workshop is here to help! Dive into the complexities of compliance and turn them into your strength. Here’s what you’ll learn: Demystify Regulations Accurate Documentation Licensing Navigation Stay Compliant Adapt to Changes Friday, Dec. 6 from 8am to 4pm at the Wine Business Institute Sonoma State University Learn more and register here 

This 1-day in-person course provides participants with an overview of alcohol beverage laws and regulations, focusing on the complexities and specificities of the California market. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the legal framework governing the alcohol industry, including the role of the Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (CAABC). Through interactive discussions and practical examples, participants will learn about licensing requirements, operating models, labeling regulations, and resources available on the TTB and CA ABC websites. Practical Information This in-person workshop will take place at the Wine Spectator Learning Center on the SSU (Sonoma State University) campus in Rohnert Park, CA. The workshop will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coffee, tea, lunch, network drinks and light apps are complementary as is filtered water (please bring your own bottle).   Register here.

The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law is an essential compliance reference that helps wine and spirits professionals keep up with changes to laws and regulations affecting our industry. Anyone who needs to navigate the requirements for selling and marketing wine and distilled spirits will be benefitted by a subscription to this versatile resource. The Digest’s regulatory content is divided into separate Digests for every state and the District of Columbia, including separate listings in states that have both state-controlled distribution and private-sector distribution. Every State Digest is organized in a standardized, easy-to-follow format. Its information is divided into seventeen major topics and numerous subtopics, all of which are easily searchable on our website. We also offer a similar Federal Digest in which selected sections of the of Federal Regulations (CFR) are included for your convenience. Legal citations are included with the relevant text. These references allow y

Remember the days of thumbing through the phonebook looking for your state agency contact information only to find, when you placed the call, that the number had been changed since the phonebook was printed? And when you needed an out-of-state number, then what? Even these days, finding contact information on the web can be difficult. The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law takes the hassle out of finding the contact information you’re looking for with our comprehensive State Agencies page. On one page you will find contact numbers and addresses for the government offices involved in the regulation of the beverage alcohol industry. The Digest lists state alcohol agencies, tax authorities, and Secretaries of State, as well as links for further research into the rules and regulations that affect your business. The State Agencies page is regularly updated with current, correct information, taking the hassle out of getting the information you need. Contact us today to find out how The

Excise tax rates affect the price of every alcoholic beverage. Because of CBMA credits, federal excise taxes are more confusing than ever. And each state has different rates depending on commodity and ABV. Now some states have begun to establish special tax rates for spirits-based RTDs. Virtually everybody in your organization needs quick access to excise tax rates. DTC shippers pay the excise taxes in the states where their customers live. Although wholesalers often pay the state excise taxes on wine sold through the three-tier system, knowing what your wholesaler is paying helps suppliers set the price and determine the margin on your products. The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law’s Excise Tax table makes it easy to see how your products will be taxed, everywhere in the nation. More details are found in the Excise Taxes article for each state. Both are updated regularly. Take the hassle out of looking up the excise tax rates for wine and distilled spirits. Subscribe today and

In the alcohol beverage industry, when laws and regulations change you need to know! That’s why The Digest of Wine & Spirits Law is constantly updated with the most recent administrative and legislative changes. And these changes are publicly posted right on our website for your convenience. The links on the Recent Updates page allow subscribers access to the full text of the updated article complete with revision history, date of revision, and more. Be in the know. Subscribe to The Digest, and you will also have the option of receiving periodic emails when our database is updated. Once you are signed up for update notifications, you will receive an email every few weeks notifying you what has been changed and when. The Digest makes it fast and easy to stay on top of compliance issues in our heavily regulated industry. Don’t let regulatory and legislative changes catch you by surprise, subscribe today! For a demonstration of The Digest, view the video, or contact us to

The Digest of Wine and Spirits Law team is constantly looking for ways to improve this indispensable reference for wine and spirits professionals. 2022 brought a number of significant changes to federal regulations, and TTB says more are on the way. So, we are happy to announce the expansion of the convenient “compare” feature to the federal digest area. The compare feature already allows subscribers to see what text has been eliminated, and what provisions have been added in each updated state digest. Now the compare feature is also available in the federal digest area, allowing subscribers to see what’s been added or changed. In addition, federal updates have been added to the Recent Updates list on the Digest home page. What does that mean to you? Simply put, subscribers are alerted whenever TTB changes the regulations governing the sale and advertising of wine and spirits, and they can quickly and easily see exactly what's changed. One more great reason to re