42.13.201    LABELING AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS

(1) As a condition of holding a retail license, no retail licensee shall sell, offer for sale, or provide any beer, wine, or hard cider unless the label and primary packaging are in conformity with this rule and ARM 42.13.221.

(2) Alcoholic beverage products are a mature product category, restricted by law to only consumers age 21 and older and who are not intoxicated, and therefore should be marketed in a responsible and appropriate manner. The department, in its discretion and on a case-by-case basis, will not approve a beer, wine, or hard cider label or primary package that:

(a) blurs the distinction between an alcoholic and nonalcoholic product by utilizing labeling and/or primary packaging that emphasize features that are most commonly associated with nonalcoholic consumable products including, but not limited to:

(i) aerosol cans;

(ii) gelatin cups;

(iii) hollow candies; or

(iv) mason jars that contain fruit;

(b) uses flavors that are designed to target or particularly appeal to underage persons, such as:

(i) cotton candy; or

(ii) bubble gum; or

(c) contains graphics or elements that:

(i) are designed to target or particularly appeal to underage persons;

(ii) minimizes, fails to identify, or disguises that the product contains alcohol; or

(iii) alludes to or suggests irresponsible, excessive, or underage consumption; or

(d) is in powdered or crystalline form.

(3) The department will notify the winery, wine importer, brewer, or beer importer of any products that do not conform to the requirements in (2). The winery, wine importer, brewer, or beer importer must remove the product from the Montana market within 60 days of being notified by the department.

 

History: 16-1-303, MCA; IMP, 16-1-101, 16-1-102, 16-1-106, 16-1-303, MCA; NEW, Eff. 11/3/75; AMD, 2002 MAR p. 2337, Eff. 8/30/02; AMD, 2010 MAR p. 757, Eff. 3/26/10; AMD, 2012 MAR p. 2646, Eff. 12/21/12; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 2058, Eff. 11/9/19.