The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism has released updated rules for the sale and distribution of alcohol. Businesses are given six months to bring their activities into line with the new rules.
The requirements are mainly focused on the specifications for each type of alcohol: all drinks must meet the designated requirements and be properly labeled, the department notes on October 6, 2022.
In particular, alcoholic beverages must not contain alcohol of synthetic and non-agricultural origin, pathogenic microorganisms and their secretions that can harm the health of the consumer, methanol, and other toxic alcohols. The minimum alcohol strength should be 0.5%.
Wines, in turn, must not smell or taste the vinegar and must not contain artificial colors. The maximum concentration of total sulfur dioxide in them should not exceed 400 mg / l, heavy metals – 0.2 mg / l for arsenic and lead, and 0.01 mg / l for cadmium.
Beer should also be free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors (except caramel). The concentration of mineral pollutants in beer should not exceed the following limits: arsenic 0.1 mg/l, copper 0.2 mg/l, lead 0.02 mg/l, iron 0.2 mg/l, tin 250 mg/l. The concentration of diacetyl should not exceed 0.2 mg/l.
Alcoholic beverages must be packed in clean containers that protect them from contamination, and damage and preserve their natural properties. Packaging materials must comply with the requirements set out in the relevant specifications of the UAE regulatory authorities.
During transport, beverages must be protected from rain, sunlight, overheating, unwanted odors, and other sources of contamination. Alcoholic beverages should be stored in dry, well-ventilated areas at a temperature of 21-23 ° C, protected from insects and rodents.
All alcohol labeling must be in two languages - English and Arabic, including the name of the drink and its country of origin.