FSSAI modified Regulation of Alcoholic Beverage

It's important for people involved in Meads, Nitro beers, Traditional Indian liquors and RTDs.

These new rules will be applicable from 1 January 2026.

Change 1

New Definition for Alcoholic Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Beverages

Flavored drinks with 0.5-15% ABV, made using spirits or alcohol base, plus flavors, juices, herbs, sugar/sweeteners, salt, and optionally carbonated is called as Alcoholic

Ready-to-Drink (RTD)

Carbonated RTDs must contain at least 1 volume of CO2

Change 2

Plain Country Liquor: Made from fermented molasses,

grains, jaggery, fruits, juice of coconut/palm or any other agricultural carbohydrate source.

Blended Country Liquor: Mixture of an alcoholic distillate, rectified spirit or neutral spirit.

Change 3

Category heading is changed

BEFORE: Wine from fruits other than grapes

NOW: Fruit Wine (other than grape wine) along with Honey wine.

Honey wine (Mead) is officially included in law, it must have 4 to 15.5% ABV

Regulation also says that wine based beverages may or may not be carbonated.

Change 4

Official definition added for Nitro Craft Beer

Beer infused with a CO2 + N2 gas blend is called as Nitro Craft Beer

Change 5

Tables and Annexures are upIndian Liquordated.

Added Annexure-1 listing which includes:

51 ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages made from Indian Liquor

27 distilled alcoholic products

3 Undistilled Indian Liquor