“Nevermore” apparently constituted the entire vocabulary of the elegant raven of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, but both the word and the concept may be facing obsolescence as the echoes of change resound within the halls of beverage regulation. These changes herald a new era for non-alcoholic malt and brewed beverages, where uncertainty can give way to clarity and opportunity.

It is no secret that consumers are demanding more non-alcoholic beverages. The prevalence of non-alcoholic beers is increasing, with products such as Athletic Brewing or Heineken 0 lining the shelves. The increased prominence of these non-alcoholic beers might be explained through a wide variety of factors, ranging from decreased alcoholic consumption due to health considerations to the changing palates of younger generations. Many brewers want to take part in this evolving market of non-alcoholic beers. Unfortunately, many erroneously believe non-alcoholic products can be easily shipped and sold in commerce, much like drinking water or sodas. That assumption is faulty. Rather, non-alcoholic beers are regulated at both federal and state levels—and the differences at the state level are wide ranging.