Alcohol Labelling in Australia: How to Stay Compliant and Avoid Costly Mistakes

If You’re Not 100% Sure Your Label Is Compliant, Read This First

You’ve got your product ready to go. The flavour’s nailed. The packaging’s on point. The launch date’s set. But just before sending off the final label files, that familiar doubt creeps in - “Are we actually compliant?”

If you're in the alcohol game in Australia, that question probably pops up more than you'd like to admit.

Whether you're bottling small-batch spirits or rolling out a new line of craft beer labels, the rules around alcohol labelling can feel like a moving target. From standard drinks to allergen declarations to the now-mandatory pregnancy warning labels, getting your labels right isn’t just a regulatory box-tick - it’s essential protection for your brand.

At LabEX, we work with all kinds of producers - big, small, niche, and everything in between - to take the guesswork out of label guidelines. We’ve seen the panic that happens when someone spots an error too late, and we’ve helped brands fix issues before they turn into costly delays.

In this guide, you’ll get a clear breakdown of what’s required, how the rules vary between different types of alcohol, and what practical steps you can take to stay compliant without overcomplicating things. Whether you're updating wine labels or creating your first round of custom labels, this will help you move forward with confidence.

Understanding Mandatory Labelling Requirements

When it comes to alcohol labelling in Australia, the non-negotiables are set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). These rules apply whether you’re producing a boutique wine, launching a range of craft beer labels, or bottling RTDs. Missing even one requirement can mean fines, delays, or having to recall your product entirely.

Here are the core elements every alcohol label must include:

1. Alcohol by Volume (ABV)

You need to clearly state the percentage of alcohol by volume - for example, “4.5% ALC/VOL”. This must be accurate and visible on the label.

2. Standard Drinks Statement

This is separate from the ABV and must show how many standard drinks are in the package - such as “1.4 standard drinks”. FSANZ provides a formula to help you calculate this correctly.

3. Pregnancy Warning Label

As of 31 July 2023, this is compulsory for all alcoholic beverages packaged after this date. The label must include both a graphic and the statement: “Alcohol can cause lifelong harm to your baby.” There are specific requirements for size, colour contrast, and placement.

4. Allergen Declarations

If your product contains any allergens (like sulphites in wine labels or wheat in some beers), they must be clearly disclosed.

5. Legibility and Presentation

Your label needs to be easy to read and in English - no exceptions. FSANZ is strict on this, and for good reason. If a customer can’t read the info, it doesn’t matter how good your product is.

Specific Considerations for Different Beverage Types

Not all alcohol products are treated equally when it comes to labelling. While the core requirements apply across the board, certain details shift depending on whether you’re producing beer, wine, spirits or ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages.

Craft Beer Labels

For breweries, especially those focused on small-batch or seasonal releases, the biggest challenge is keeping up with design turnover while still meeting label guidelines. Allergens like gluten and sulphites are easy to miss in more experimental recipes.

Because craft beer labels often change with each release, it’s essential to build a compliance checklist into your design workflow.

Wine Labels

Wine labels are heavily scrutinised - not just for compliance but for presentation. Legibility is a common issue here. Fonts, decorative elements, and label finishes can all impact whether a label meets FSANZ readability standards.

Allergen declarations are a frequent sticking point. Sulphites must be declared if present above 10 mg/kg, which covers most wines.

Spirits & RTDs

RTDs often come in smaller packages, which can make compliance trickier. You still need to fit in all the mandatory information in a legible format.

For spirits, especially those with premium finishes, it’s important not to let aesthetics override compliance.

Common Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with the best intentions, it’s surprisingly easy to overlook small details that lead to big issues. Here’s what to watch for:

1. Inaccurate Alcohol Content

Getting your ABV wrong, even slightly, can trigger regulatory trouble. Always test and confirm through reliable methods.

2. Missing or Incorrect Standard Drinks Info

This is common, especially on new product label printing runs where templates haven’t been double-checked.

3. Poor Visibility or Illegible Text

Dark backgrounds, foils, or decorative fonts can all make critical information hard to read — a frequent issue in both wine labels and product label printing.

4. Forgetting the Pregnancy Warning Label

We still see this missed on older craft beer labels or reprints of older packaging. Make sure the warning is added to all packaging printed after 31 July 2023.

5. Allergen Declarations Not Updated with Ingredient Changes

Even small recipe tweaks can change the allergen profile. Review your label every time ingredients or suppliers change.

Best Practices for Maintaining Compliance

Compliance doesn’t need to be a burden. It just needs to be part of your process.

1. Keep FSANZ Label Guidelines Handy

Bookmark the official page and check for updates regularly. It’s the easiest way to stay compliant.

2. Use a Labelling Compliance Checklist

Before sending your design off for printing, run it through a quick checklist covering ABV, standard drinks, allergens, pregnancy warning, and legibility.

3. Review Labels After Ingredient or Process Changes

If anything changes in your recipe or packaging method, review the full label — especially allergen statements and standard drinks info.

4. Train Your Team on the Basics

Label compliance shouldn’t rest on one person’s shoulders. Make sure anyone involved in packaging or approvals understands the essentials of label guidelines.

Don’t Wait for a Compliance Issue to Fix Your Labels

Getting your custom label printing right isn’t just about ticking boxes - it’s about protecting your customers, your brand, and your bottom line. The requirements might feel complex at first, but they’re entirely manageable once they become part of your regular workflow.

Build checklists. Review thoroughly. Stay up to date.

And when you're ready to bring your label designs to life, LabEX makes it easy to order high-quality wine labels and craft beer labels online - with fast turnaround and reliable results to match the effort you've put into staying compliant.