In this year’s session of the Virginia General Assembly, two bills were passed (HB 1979 and SB 809) that regulate a family of alcoholic beverages that we refer to as crossover products. There is the obvious potential for consumer confusion when products that contain alcohol are merchandised on shelves/displays that are adjacent to (or intermingled with) products that appeal primarily to an audience that is not of legal drinking age.
The potential for confusion is compounded by the fact that many popular soft drink brands have made the jump into this crossover category and by leveraging the equity and recognizability of their brands have blurred the ability of a consumer to easily tell which products contain alcohol and which do not.
Please keep in touch with your Special Agent with regard to how to stay compliant with the rules set forth by this legislation in effect July 1. Find Your Local Regional Office here |