The Bureau of Standards Jamaica has published Draft Jamaican Standard DJS 377:2026, establishing specifications for Alcoholic Mixed, Aromatized, and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages intended for human consumption. The draft standard is open for public comments from May 10, 2026 to July 9, 2026.
The proposed compulsory standard sets requirements for composition, potable water quality, contaminants, microbiological safety, packaging, labelling, and sampling procedures for RTD alcoholic beverages. It excludes products already covered under separate standards, including spirits, wines, beers, cider, mead, liqueurs, and distilled spirituous beverages.
Scope and Product Definition-The draft defines alcoholic mixed/aromatized beverages as alcoholic drinks produced by combining alcohol with flavours, botanicals, herbs, spices, fruits, juices, sweeteners, water, or other permitted additives. Examples include cooler-type beverages and low-alcohol drinks.
A) Permitted ingredients include:
Water
Sugar, malt/cereal extract, or fruit juice extract
Neutral spirit, potable spirit, or other alcoholic beverage bases
Food flavourings compliant with CAC/GL 66
Optional ingredients such as edible salt, carbon dioxide, and phosphates
B)Compositional Requirements
The draft establishes the following quality specifications for alcoholic mixed beverages:
pH: 2.5–5.0
Maximum total acidity: 8.0 g/L
Maximum alcohol content: 15% v/v for alcoholic beverages and 0.5% v/v for non-alcoholic beverages
Maximum carbon dioxide: 2% v/v
Maximum sugar content: 200 g/L
Maximum methanol level: 0.03 g/L
Potable Water Standards
Water used in manufacturing must comply with WHO drinking water guidelines and specified limits, including:
Turbidity not exceeding 5 NTU
Sulphate and chloride limits of 250 mg/kg
Copper limit of 2.0 mg/kg
Iron and manganese limit of 0.3 mg/kg
Residual chlorine limit of 0.2 mg/kg
C) Contaminants and Microbiological Limits
The draft sets maximum heavy metal limits, including:
Arsenic: 0.1 mg/kg
Lead: 0.1 mg/kg
Tin: 150 mg/kg for canned beverages
Mercury: 0.05 mg/kg
Cadmium: 0.003 mg/kg
Alcoholic mixed beverages must also comply with microbiological criteria:
Total plate count: below 100 CFU/100 ml at bottling
Yeast and mould count: below 25 CFU/100 ml
Coliform count: below 1 CFU/100 ml
The draft additionally requires compliance with Codex pesticide residue limits.
D) Packaging Requirements
The standard permits packaging in glass liquor bottles or other food-grade containers. Containers must:
Protect product safety and quality
Be properly sealed under Government Excise Laws
Not impair organoleptic or chemical properties
Be free from cracks, pinholes, blisters, and sharp edges
E) Mandatory label declarations include:
Product name
Manufacturer name and address
Alcohol content (% v/v)
Ingredient list
Net contents
Date marking
Batch code
Country of origin
Storage conditions
Statutory warnings
The draft prohibits health claims on alcoholic mixed beverage labels.
Additional mandatory warnings include:
-Drinking and driving risks
-Excessive alcohol consumption risks
-Medication interaction warnings
-Pregnancy warnings for beverages containing 0.5% ABV or more
-Underage consumption warnings
Minimum warning logo sizes are also prescribed:
1.10 mm for packages over 1 litre
2.8 mm for 500 ml–1 litre
3.5 mm for packages under 500 ml