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Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Weird Whiskey Regulations: The No Flag Rule


 File this under the weird rules department.  Did you know that according to 27 CFR 5.42(b)(7) of the TTB regulations for distilled spirits:

Labels shall not contain any statement, design, device, or pictorial representation which the appropriate TTB officer finds relates to, or is capable of being construed as relating to, the armed forces of the United States, or the American flag, or any emblem, seal, insignia, or decoration associated with such flag or armed forces;
The only TTB ruling I found dealing with this provision involved a retailer who wanted to put stickers on bottles "bearing the slogan 'Fight Communism' and pictures of the Statue of Liberty and of the American flag with its staff transfixing a bleeding serpent." Classy! The TTB nixed the flag but said the rest of it was good to go, so I guess bleeding serpents are okay.

Of course, as with most rules, the TTB seems pretty lax about it these days, letting at least a few flags and military themes slip through.


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10 comments:

  1. David DMarch 5, 2014 at 8:48 AM

    That's interesting. Google search the Privateer Rum label. We had it briefly in the store.

    ReplyDelete
  2. skuMarch 5, 2014 at 8:56 AM

    Interesting. Stripes but not stars must have been vague enough to pass muster.

    ReplyDelete
  3. sam kMarch 5, 2014 at 9:43 AM

    Then there's that Svedka "Fourth of July" bottle that looks suspiciously like it was based on the American flag.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 5, 2014 at 12:39 PM

    https://www.ttbonline.gov/colasonline/viewColaDetails.do?action=publicFormDisplay&ttbid=12199001000400

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 5, 2014 at 12:41 PM

    I suppose anything goes with exports: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stars-Stripes-Bourbon/198651970179908

    ReplyDelete
  6. skuMarch 5, 2014 at 1:50 PM

    Anon @ 12:41, that's correct, the regulations do not apply to exports.

    Anon @ 12:39, while the regulation I cited above applies to distilled spirits, there is an identical regulation for wine labels so that would appear to be a violation.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousMarch 5, 2014 at 10:50 PM

    just down the road from me

    http://4spiritsdistillery.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/8.jpg

    Being a Vet I find this offensive. I don't think the symbolism should be exploited.

    ReplyDelete
  8. JoshMarch 6, 2014 at 2:54 PM

    I guess the Maker's bottle with the Army Combat Uniform camo on the label got a pass. It came with a dog tag and all.

    http://makersmarkbottles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/kgrhqvhje4ewco-yvrbp2g7jst0g60_57-294x300.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousMarch 13, 2014 at 6:46 PM

    Goddam, those four bottles make me feel patriotic!!

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  10. AnonymousMay 24, 2014 at 2:40 AM

    How about the Jim Beam White "Operation Homefront" Label? It has a star and red/white stripes which recalls the USAF emblem?

    ReplyDelete