---
title: "What health warning must alcoholic beverage labels carry? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/alcohol-cannabis/alcohol-health-warning-statement
jurisdiction: "US Federal"
last_verified: 2026-08-28
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# What health warning must alcoholic beverage labels carry? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources.

Under 27 CFR § 16.21, alcoholic beverage labels must carry a GOVERNMENT WARNING statement, separate and apart from all other information. The warning has two parts: (1) per the Surgeon General, women of childbearing potential should not drink during pregnancy due to birth defect risk, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; and (2) consumption impairs driving/operating machinery and may cause health problems, including liver disease, addiction, and increased risk of certain cancers. Authority derives from the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1988 (27 U.S.C. 215).

## Details / How it works

Per 27 CFR § 16.21, the GOVERNMENT WARNING must appear on the brand label, or on a separate front, back, or side label, separate and apart from all other information. The exact statutory text is prescribed by the regulation and may not be paraphrased. The warning text is the only health warning required for alcoholic beverage containers under federal labeling law.

## Required warning text

| Element | Required content |
|---|---|
| Header | GOVERNMENT WARNING |
| Part (1) | Surgeon General advises women of childbearing potential should not drink during pregnancy because of risk of birth defects, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders |
| Part (2) | Consumption impairs ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems, including liver disease, addiction, and increased risk of certain cancers |
| Placement | On brand label or separate front/back/side label, separate and apart from all other information |
| Authority | Sec. 8001, Pub. L. 100-690, 102 Stat. 4181, 27 U.S.C. 215 (Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1988) |

## Exceptions & edge cases

The GOVERNMENT WARNING under 27 CFR § 16.21 applies to all alcoholic beverages subject to the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1988. Distinctive liquor bottles may be exempted from certain placement requirements for other mandatory information under 27 CFR § 5.205(b)(2), but the health warning text itself must still appear as required by § 16.21.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. Government Publishing Office / Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — 27 CFR 16.21 — Health warning statement requirements for alcoholic beverages · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-16.21 · as of 2026-08-28
- [2] U.S. Government Publishing Office / Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau — 27 CFR 5.63 — Mandatory label information for distilled spirits · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-5.63 · as of 2026-08-28