What is the minimum alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage that characterizes an alcoholic beverage?

The minimum alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage that characterizes an alcoholic beverage is 0.5%. This threshold is important in determining whether a beverage is classified as alcoholic under various regulatory definitions.

Beverages with an ABV below this level are typically considered non-alcoholic; for instance, many states define non-alcoholic beer or malt beverages as those containing less than 0.5% ABV. Consequently, when alcohol content is measured and understood in both regulatory and consumer contexts, this 0.5% line is a critical point of distinction.

Other percentages, such as 0.1% or 1%, do not reflect the standard definitions utilized by the majority of alcohol control laws, which clarify that anything under 0.5% is generally not categorized as an alcoholic beverage. A threshold of 2% would indicate a beverage that is clearly alcoholic, much beyond the required minimum to establish a classification.