32B-1-606. Special procedure for approval of labeling and packaging for certain malted beverages.
(1)
A manufacturer of a malted beverage may not distribute or sell the malted beverage in the state until the day on which the manufacturer receives approval of the labeling and packaging of the malted beverage from the department in accordance with:
Packaging: means the outer packaging that is visible to a consumer such as a carton, case, or other wrapper of a container. See Utah Code 32B-1-602
Patron: means an individual to whom food, beverages, or services are sold, offered for sale, or furnished, or who consumes an alcoholic product including:
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
this section, if the malted beverage is labeled or packaged in a manner that is:
(i)
similar to a label or packaging used for a nonalcoholic beverage; or
(ii)
likely to confuse or mislead a patron to believe the malted beverage is a nonalcoholic beverage.
(2)
The department may not approve the labeling and packaging of a malted beverage described in Subsection (1) unless, in addition to the requirements of Section 32B-1-604, the labeling and packaging complies with the following:
(a)
the front of the label on the malted beverage bears a prominently displayed label or a firmly affixed sticker that provides the following information in a font that measures at least three millimeters high and is in obvious and clearly visible contrast to the background of the text:
(i)
the statement:
(A)
“alcoholic beverage”; or
(B)
“contains alcohol”; and
(ii)
the alcohol content of the malted beverage, if the alcohol content is not otherwise provided:
(A)
in a serving facts statement on the container; and
(B)
in a format allowed by the Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau;
(b)
the packaging of the malted beverage prominently includes, either imprinted on the packaging or imprinted on a sticker firmly affixed to the packaging in a font that measures at least three millimeters high and is in obvious and clearly visible contrast to the background of the text, the statement:
may reject a label or packaging for a malted beverage that appears designed to obscure the information required under Subsection (2); and
(b)
shall reject a label or packaging for a malted beverage to be sold by an off-premise beer retailer if the label or packaging for the malted beverage complies with Subsection (2) but remains so similar to a label or packaging used on a well-known or widely available nonalcoholic beverage that the label or packaging for the malted beverage is likely to confuse or mislead a patron to believe the malted beverage is a nonalcoholic beverage.
(4)
To determine whether a malted beverage is described in Subsection (1) and subject to this section, the department may consider in addition to other factors one or more of the following factors:
(a)
whether the coloring, carbonation, and packaging of the malted beverage:
(i)
is similar to those of a nonalcoholic beverage or product; or
(ii)
can be confused with a nonalcoholic beverage;
(b)
whether the malted beverage possesses a character and flavor distinctive from a traditional malted beverage;
(c)
whether the malted beverage:
(i)
is prepackaged;
(ii)
contains high levels of caffeine and other additives; and
(iii)
is marketed as a beverage that is specifically designed to provide energy;
(d)
whether the malted beverage contains added sweetener or sugar substitutes; or
(e)
whether the malted beverage contains an added fruit flavor or other flavor that masks the taste of a traditional malted beverage.
