§351. Limitation on size of containers of beverages of high alcoholic content; standards of fill

            Except for wines, no manufacturer or wholesaler in this state shall have in his possession any beverages of high alcoholic content outside of his bonded stockroom unless they are in containers of no greater capacity than one and seventy-five one hundredths liters. The standards of fill shall be the following:

            (1)(a) All distilled spirits sold in or shipped into this state shall be in the following containers: One and seventy-five hundredths liters, one liter, seven hundred fifty milliliters, seven hundred milliliters, five hundred milliliters, three hundred seventy-five milliliters, two hundred milliliters, and fifty milliliters.

            (b) If any supplier ships a particular brand of a distilled spirit into this state in a three hundred seventy-five milliliter container, he shall thereafter be prohibited from shipping that brand of beverage into the state in a five hundred milliliter container.

            (c) If any supplier offers for sale in this state a particular product of a distilled spirit in a seven hundred fifty milliliter container, the particular product of distilled spirit shall not also be offered for sale in a seven hundred milliliter container at the same time, provided the supplier is given time to fully transition.

            (2)(a) All wine, sold in or shipped into this state shall be in the following containers: twenty liters, nineteen and five-tenths liters, eighteen liters, seventeen liters, sixteen liters, fifteen liters, fourteen liters, thirteen liters, twelve liters, eleven liters, ten liters, nine liters, eight liters, seven liters, six liters, five liters, four liters, three liters, one and five-tenths liters, one liter, seven hundred fifty milliliters, five hundred milliliters, three hundred seventy-five milliliters, three hundred fifty-five milliliters, two hundred fifty milliliters, and one hundred eighty-seven milliliters.

            (b) "Vintage wines"--wines bottled prior to December 31, 1978 may be shipped into the state in containers not less than the equivalent of one hundred eighty-seven milliliters provided the proper proof of bottling dates is furnished in writing to the secretary in advance of the shipment and provided the secretary authorizes in writing that this merchandise may be shipped into the state.

            (c) The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the imported alcohol beverage "Sake".

            (3)(a) Distilled spirits, whether domestically bottled or imported, subject to the metric standard of fill prescribed in Paragraph (1) of this Section shall be packed with the following number of containers per shipping case or container:

                        Container sizes           Containers per case

                        1.75 liters                                6

                        1.00 liters                                not more than 12

                        750 milliliters                         not more than 12

                        700 milliliters                         not more than 12

                        375 milliliters                         not more than 24

                        355 milliliters                         24

                        200 milliliters                         not more than 48

                        100 milliliters                         not more than 48

                        50 milliliters                           60

                        50 milliliters                           120

            (b) For purposes of this Paragraph, "container" shall mean any receptacle produced and manufactured with any substance used to package distilled spirits for delivery to the public.

            (c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to package spirit-based beverages with an alcohol content below six percent.

            (4)(a) Wines bottled subject to the standards of fill prescribed in Paragraph (2) of this Section shall be packed with the following number of containers per shipping case or shipping container:

                        Container sizes                                   Containers per case

                        5 through 20 liters                                           1

                        4 liters                                                              4

                        3 liters                                                              not more than 6

                        1.5 liters                                                           not more than 6

                        1 liter                                                               not more than 12

                        750 milliliters                                                  not more than 12

                        500 milliliters                                                  12

                        375 milliliters                                                  24

                        355 milliliters                                                  24

                        250 milliliters                                                  24

                        200 milliliters                                                  not more than 48

                        187 milliliters                                                  48

            (b) For purposes of this Paragraph, "container" shall mean any receptacle produced and manufactured with any substance used to package wine for delivery to the public.

            (5) Upon application, in duplicate, approved by the secretary, the bottles per case requirements set forth in Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Section may be waived if good cause can be shown by the bottler or importer.

            (6) Any standard of fill as to size of containers for beverages of high alcoholic content approved by the United States Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Firearms may be shipped into the state of Louisiana for the purposes of storage for shipment beyond the borders of the state of Louisiana. Only those sizes listed in Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this Section may be sold under the provisions of these Paragraphs to licensed retail dealers or to licensed wholesale dealers who are licensed in the state of Louisiana.

            (7) Repealed by Acts 2020, No. 319, §2.

            (8) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Part or any other provisions of law to the contrary, the secretary may, for good cause shown, after proper application by a bottler or importer and an official hearing, waive the container limitations for a period not to exceed seven consecutive days. Only standards of fill as to size of containers for beverages of high alcoholic content approved by the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms may be allowed, provided these fill allowables are not in conflict with this Section.

            (9) The container restrictions provided for in this Section shall not apply to cider products.

            (10) No container sold in or shipped into this state shall include powdered alcohol.

            Amended by Acts 1964, No. 384, §1; Acts 1972, No. 73, §1; Acts 1974, No. 350, §1; Acts 1975, No. 252, §1; Acts 1976, No. 297, §1; Acts 1978, No. 441, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1979; Acts 1979, No. 358, §1; Acts 1981, No. 504, §1; Acts 1983, No. 457, §1; Acts 1984, No. 268, §1; Acts 1987, No. 696, §1; Acts 1988, No. 526, §1, eff. July 1, 1988; Acts 1990, No. 285, §1; Acts 1993, No. 1011, §1; Acts 1995, No. 408, §1; Acts 2011, 1^st Ex. Sess., No. 31, §1; Acts 2014, No. 18, §1; Acts 2014, No. 688, §1, eff. June 18, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 95, §1; Acts 2020, No. 319, §§1, 2; Acts 2023, No. 365, §1, eff. June 14, 2023; Acts 2024, No. 382, §1; Acts 2025, No. 310, §1.