TTB Issues Guidance on Alcohol Content of Kombucha Product
The Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau on June 23, 2010 issued guidance stating that Kombucha products containing at least 0.5 percent alcohol by volume are alcohol beverages. Kombucha is a fermented tea that is typically marketed as a non-alcoholic beverage, which means that it may contain a trace amount of alcohol, as long as the overall alcohol content is less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume.
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However, in some cases these products have alcohol contents that significantly exceed 0.5 percent. At this point, TTB does not know how many brands might be affected by this issue. Producers, importers, and wholesalers of alcohol beverage products may be subject to the permit, labeling, and advertising requirements of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), depending on the classification of the product. In addition, the production of alcohol beverages is subject to strict regulation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC).
TTB encourages producers and distributors of kombucha products that are alcohol beverages to take immediate steps to ensure that their products comply with applicable Federal, State, and local laws regarding alcohol beverages. TTB is coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that kombucha products that are currently on the market comply with Federal laws.