What's new

Industry Circular 2004-4, Guidelines for Submitting Operational Reports. TTB announces new guidelines for the submission of operational reports by alcohol and tobacco industry members, and that we are rescinding all existing alternate versions of these reports. We take this action to ensure the consistency of the format of the data submitted on these reports for use with TTB's new Integrated Revenue Information System (IRIS) computer system. Read Industry Circular 2004-4 for details.

Industry Circular 2004-3, Alcohol and Tobacco Export Documentation Procedures. TTB announces a new alternative procedure to allow alcohol and tobacco exporters to retain export documentation at their premises. Effective on November 29, 2004, we will rescind all previously approved export documentation alternative procedures. If you wish to retain export documentation at your premises, you must obtain our approval and replace any current alternative procedure with the new procedure described in this Industry Circular.

Discussion Draft - Voluntary Disclosure. [Please note this is not a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking]. TTB is proposing a voluntary disclosure program intended to provide an avenue for reduced or avoided penalties for industry members who voluntarily advise TTB of their noncompliance with TTB’s laws and regulations. Voluntary disclosure encourages compliance with TTB laws and regulations with a minimum impact on TTB resources. TTB invites your comments on this proposal. You may submit comments at the end of the discussion draft or click here. Read Discussion Draft.

Electronic Appellation Initiative. We are providing listings of authorized U.S. appellations of origin. This is the first step in developing an electronic “warehouse” of all U.S. and foreign authorized appellations of origin. The International Trade Division is leading this initiative and will soon give foreign governments the opportunity to review its appellation listing prior to publication on our site. See our Quick Links section to access this information. (07/16/04)

T.D. TTB-15, Red Hills Lake County Viticultural Area. On July 12, 2004, we published a final rule in the Federal Register (69 FR 41750) establishing the Red Hills Lake County viticultural area in Lake County, California, effective on September 10, 2004. This new viticultural area is entirely within the existing Clear Lake viticultural area.

TTB Procedure 2004-1, Testing of Calorie, Fat, Carbohydrate, and Protein Content of Alcohol Beverages; Acceptable Tolerance Levels. This procedure notifies you of the methods we use to test calorie, fat, carbohydrate, and protein content of alcohol beverages to verify labeling and advertising claims. This procedure also addresses tolerance ranges with regard to statements of calorie, fat, carbohydrate, and protein content. Read more.

New & Realigned California Viticultural Areas: On June 29, 2004 we published T.D. TTB-13, Establishment of Salado Viticultural Area and T.D. TTB-14, San Bernabe and San Lucas Viticultural Areas at in the Federal Register at 69 FR 38831 and 69 FR 38834, respectively. TTB-13 establishes the Salado Creek viticultural area in western Stanislaus County, California. TTB-14 establishes the San Bernabe viticultural area and realigns the existing San Lucas viticultural area, both of which are within the Monterey viticultural area in Monterey County, California. The two final rules are effective August 30, 2004.

T.D. TTB-12, Removal of Requirement to Disclose Saccharin in the Labeling of Wine, Distilled Spirits, and Malt Beverages. In section 517 of Public Law 106-554, Congress repealed the law requiring warning labels on food and beverage products containing Saccharin. Accordingly, we have amended 27 CFR parts 4, 5, and 7 by removing the Saccharin warning label requirement for wines, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. See the final rule for details.

T.D. TTB-11, Columbia Gorge Viticultural Area. This Treasury decision, published May 10, 2004, establishes the Columbia Gorge viticultural area in Hood River and Wasco Counties, Oregon, and Skamania and Klickitat Counties, Washington. This viticultural area is located approximately 60 miles east of Portland, Oregon. See the final rule for details. (Pub. 5/10/04)

T.D. TTB-10, Temecula Valley Viticultural Area. This final rule changes the name of the "Temecula" viticultural area (27 CFR 9.50) to "Temecula Valley." We take this action to better differentiate between the city of Temecula (formerly a small unincorporated village and now a city of 75,000) and the surrounding rural agricultural land. See the final rule for details. (Pub. 4/19/04)

New TTB Ruling on Caloric and Carbohydrate Representations in Alcohol Beverage Labeling and Advertising. On April 7, 2004, TTB issued TTB Ruling 2004-1, offering guidance to industry members on caloric and carbohydrate statements, such as "low-carb," in the labeling and advertising of wine, distilled spirits and malt beverages. Read TTB Ruling 2004-1. Read the press release
Q&As

T.D. TTB-8, Exportation of Liquors; Recodification of Regulations. As part of our ongoing efforts to reorganize title 27, chapter 1, Code of Federal Regulations, we have recoded Part 252, Exportation of Liquors, as Part 28, Exportation of Alcohol. While the requirements of this part have not changed, we did update the part's language to reflect TTB's creation and reorganization under section 1111 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. See the final rule for details. (Pub. 01/27/04).

T.D. TTB-9, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Viticultural Area. TTB has published a final rule establishing the "Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley" viticultural area in Napa County, California, effective on April 26, 2004. This 8,300 acre area is located entirely within the existing Napa Valley viticultural area, between the town of Napa and the Yountville viticultural area. See the final rule for details. (Pub. 02/25/04).

History of Alcohol

Alcohol beverages date back to the very early part of man’s history. Many archeologists believe that wines made from grapes have existed for more than 10,000 years and that drinks such as mead and beer have existed even longer. Read more.

Doing Business with TTB

The Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA) requires anyone who produces, processes, or warehouses alcohol beverage products (distilled spirits, wine, beer, malt beverages) must obtain a permit. Anyone engaged in the business of purchasing for resale at wholesale or importing distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages must also first obtain a basic permit. All such persons must file an application and necessary documents with the TTB. The permit must be approved by TTB in hand before engaging in business. To learn more about how to obtain a permit click here.

Alcohol Abuse

TTB is the Federal agency that establishes regulations and imposes taxes on alcohol manufacturers. Laws relating to alcohol consumption such as underage drinking and drunk driving are governed by each state. To learn more about the laws in your state, please check with your state legislator. To learn more about programs and prevention click here.