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Non- and low-alcoholic drinks have gained popularity over the years, with numerous enjoyable choices available. The market for these beverages has grown significantly since 2018, making non-alcoholic options like Bud Zero easily spotted in stores. This might prompt the question, “Do I need my ID for this?” The immediate response might be ‘no’, since there’s no alcohol involved, it’s almost like buying a juice or so you would think.

However, this is not entirely true. Non-alcoholic beers, despite what their name suggests, still fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act. The FAA Act oversees all malt drinks, alcoholic content notwithstanding, categorizing these non-alcoholic varieties under the general “beer” classification. The regulations regarding non-alcoholic wines and spirits are a bit more ambiguous though anecdotally, most retail stores require age verification for purchase.

Different states have varying rules. Therefore, it’s advisable to familiarize oneself with local regulations which might be more lenient or stricter. Some states, for instance, allow individuals under the age of 21 to purchase non-alcoholic beers, while others do not. In states like Oregon, West Virginia, and Wyoming, one can purchase these beverages without age limitation if they contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). Ohio stands out as the only state which sets the legal age for purchase at 18 instead of 21.

You may be looking at the 0.5% rule and thinking, “Wait, does that mean that non-alcoholic beer is still kind of alcoholic?” The answer is yes. Most non-alcoholic beer contains up to 0.5% ABV, hence the 0.5% rule adhered to by some states. There are certain drinks that are entirely free of alcohol, such as Heineken 0.0, but for the most part, you can expect to be consuming a small amount. This is likely fine if you’re drinking non-alcoholic-free beer fairly casually, but if you’re aiming to go completely sober, then you will need to take care when looking for the right brand.

If you want to be sure, check the label. There’s a difference between “non-alcoholic” and “alcohol-free” — only beer with 0.0% ABV can be labeled as alcohol-free. In fact, in order to acquire this label, breweries must send a sample of the drink to the Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). If you’re unable to find an alcohol-free option or want to know exactly how much you’re consuming, you should be able to find the exact percentage printed on the bottle.

Read the original article on Mashed