Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
What flexibility exists for spirits bottle sizes in EU markets like France, Spain, and Italy—can craft brands use 750ml instead of the standard 700ml?
EU spirits regulations technically mandate 700ml as the standard size, but enforcement varies significantly by country and market position. **Smaller and niche craft brands often operate with 750ml bottles in practice**, particularly through distribution into Germany and other EU markets, as regulators tend to overlook non-major producers. However, this is informal tolerance rather than official flexibility—having to maintain two bottle sizes (700ml and 750ml) remains a significant operational burden for craft brands. Members noted this is an ongoing frustration for the sector, especially compared to recent US TTB flexibility on alternative spirits sizes. There is currently no formal EU or UK framework allowing size variation, though pressure for change is building within the craft spirits community.
Are non-standard spirit bottle sizes (e.g., 75cl) legal for exporting spirits to the UK?
Non-standard spirit bottle sizes are **not legal** for spirits in the UK market. Members' experience confirms that while you may not face immediate enforcement action, the regulatory risk is not worth taking. - **UK Weights and Measures regulations** require spirits to be sold in specified quantities only (typically 20cl, 35cl, 50cl, 70cl, 1L and larger standard sizes). 75cl does not meet these legal requirements. - **Member experience**: One founder launched with 250ml bottles and realised after 6 months it was illegal; they quietly switched to the compliant 200ml and 500ml sizes under the guise of a "new product launch" to avoid immediate enforcement. - **Risk profile**: You won't necessarily get "pulled up for it immediately," but relying on this is unwise for a legitimate export operation. **Caveats**: If your Arrack is currently bottled in 75cl in Sri Lanka, you will need to rebottle into a UK-legal size for UK distribution. This adds cost and complexity to your supply chain.