Alcoholic Beverage Coding: 7 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

For breweries, distilleries, wineries and other drinks manufacturers, coding can seem like a small part of the packaging process. But when a batch code is unreadable, a code rubs off a wet bottle or a printer cannot keep pace with production, that small detail can quickly become a much bigger problem.

Reliable alcoholic beverage coding helps manufacturers maintain product traceability, identify batches, support efficient production and protect the appearance of finished packaging.

The challenge is that alcoholic drinks come in many different packaging formats. Glass bottles, aluminium cans, labels, caps, cartons and outer cases can all present different coding requirements. Production conditions such as condensation, high line speeds and frequent product changeovers add another layer of complexity.

So, what can actually happen when your coding equipment is not right for the application?

Here are seven common alcoholic beverage coding problems and how manufacturers can reduce the risk.

Why does coding quality matter for alcoholic beverages?

A code may occupy only a small area of a bottle or can, but it can carry important production and traceability information.

Depending on the product and application, alcoholic beverage manufacturers may need to print information such as:

• Batch or lot numbers
• Production dates and times
• Best-before dates where applicable
• Line or factory identification
• Product or SKU information
• Barcodes, QR codes or Data Matrix codes
• Promotional or brand-protection information

Code quality matters because that information needs to remain readable as products move through filling, packing, storage, distribution and retail.

For premium products such as spirits, wine and craft beer, appearance matters too. A poorly positioned, faint or smudged code can look out of place on carefully designed packaging.

Do alcoholic drinks need date and batch codes in the UK?

The coding requirements for alcoholic drinks depend on the type of beverage, its alcohol content and the market in which it is sold.

In the UK, pre-packed food products generally require a best-before or use-by date. However, certain alcoholic drinks are exempt from date-of-minimum-durability marking.

For example, UK Government guidance states that drinks containing 10% alcohol by volume or more, along with wines, liqueur wines, sparkling wines and certain related products, do not need to show a best-before or use-by date under those provisions. A lot number is still required.

This makes it important to distinguish between date coding and batch or lot coding.

What is a batch or lot code?

A batch or lot code identifies a group of products associated with a particular production run.

It can help a manufacturer trace when or where a product was produced and identify affected stock if a quality problem needs to be investigated.

For beverage manufacturers, a lot code might incorporate information such as a production date, production line, time or another internally defined identifier.

Is a best-before date required on alcoholic drinks?

Not always.

The requirement depends on the beverage. Some alcoholic drinks are exempt from displaying a best-before or use-by date, including drinks containing 10% ABV or more and certain wine products.

Lower-alcohol products may have different requirements.

Manufacturers should therefore confirm the current labelling requirements applicable to their specific beverage and market rather than assuming that every alcoholic product follows the same date-coding rules.

Regulatory note: This article provides general coding information rather than legal advice. Always check current UK Government and relevant regulatory guidance for the requirements applicable to your products.

1. Poor code quality affects the finished pack

Picture a customer picking up a premium bottle of gin, whisky, wine or craft beer.

The label has been carefully designed. The bottle has been chosen to complement the brand. The closure, carton and other packaging details all contribute to the product’s appearance.

Then there is a faint, poorly positioned or smudged production code.

Even when the code itself is technically readable, inconsistent coding can detract from a premium pack.

How to avoid it

Start by considering both code performance and appearance.

Test the proposed coding technology on the actual packaging rather than assuming that a solution that works on one bottle or can will perform identically on another.

Factors to consider include:

• Substrate
• Packaging colour
• Available print area
• Required contrast
• Code size
• Line speed
• Bottle or can curvature
• Surface treatments or coatings
• Required code durability
• Production environment

Continuous inkjet (CIJ) and laser coding are both widely used for beverage applications, but the best option depends on the individual packaging and production requirements.

2. Condensation causes codes to smear or rub off

Wet and cold beverage environments can make reliable coding more difficult.

For example, bottles may develop condensation as temperatures change during filling, storage or production. Printing onto a wet surface with an unsuitable ink can affect adhesion and code quality.

The result can be a code that is initially visible but later smears, fades or rubs away.

That creates unnecessary rework and can compromise the readability of important batch information.

How to avoid it

Consider the production environment when selecting both the printer and ink.

For condensation-prone applications, specialist inks can be used with suitable continuous inkjet systems to support adhesion on wet beverage packaging.

Testing is essential.

A print sample produced under ideal office conditions does not tell you how the code will behave on a cold bottle moving through your real production line.

Test using:

• Your actual bottle or packaging
• Representative surface conditions
• Your normal production speed
• Expected condensation levels
• Normal handling and storage conditions

This helps determine whether the code remains clear and readable throughout the product’s journey.

3. Your coder becomes a source of production downtime

A production line is only productive while it is running.

If the coding equipment repeatedly needs attention, runs out of fluids unexpectedly or requires excessive operator intervention, it can become a bottleneck.

This becomes particularly important on high-volume beverage lines where even relatively short interruptions can affect output.

How to avoid it

Look beyond print quality when selecting a coder.

Consider:

• Reliability at your required line speed
• Routine maintenance requirements
• Fluid refill frequency
• Ease of operation
• Message setup
• Fault diagnostics
• Service and technical support
• Remote monitoring capabilities
• Integration with your production line

Connected coding systems can also provide operators with visibility of printer status and help identify issues such as low fluid levels before they become an unexpected interruption.

The right coder should support production rather than become another machine operators constantly need to manage.

4. Production grows faster than your coding equipment

A coding solution that works for a small production line may not remain suitable as volumes increase.

Perhaps a craft brewery begins with modest production before moving to higher-speed canning. Or a distillery expands into new markets and adds more product variants.

If the existing coder cannot maintain code quality at the required speed, manufacturers can face missed prints, inconsistent codes or additional downtime.

How to avoid it

Think about future requirements as well as today’s production volumes.

Ask:

• What is our current line speed?
• What could our line speed be in two or three years?
• Will we introduce additional SKUs?
• Could packaging formats change?
• Will we need more complex codes?
• Will we add additional production lines?
• Could automation requirements increase?

Both CIJ and laser technologies can support high-speed beverage applications when correctly specified.

The important point is to choose equipment based on the complete application—not simply the maximum speed stated on a specification sheet.

5. A packaging change creates an unexpected coding problem

Moving from bottles to cans can be a major commercial opportunity for a drinks brand.

It can also change the coding application completely.

Glass, aluminium, PET, paper labels, coated surfaces and cardboard all behave differently. A printer, ink or laser configuration selected for one substrate may not automatically be suitable for another.

The same applies when changing bottle suppliers, introducing new labels or redesigning secondary packaging.

How to avoid it

Bring your coding supplier into packaging projects early.

Before committing to a new packaging format, consider:

• What material will be coded?
• Is the surface coated or treated?
• Will it be wet or dry when coded?
• Is the surface flat or curved?
• Where will the code appear?
• How much space is available?
• How permanent must the code be?
• What line speed is required?
• Does the packaging change affect printer positioning?

Testing the new packaging before full-scale production can identify potential problems while there is still time to resolve them.

Coding glass bottles, aluminium cans and other beverage packaging

There is no single coding technology that is automatically best for every alcoholic beverage.

The correct solution depends heavily on the packaging.

Coding glass bottles

Glass bottles are common across beer, wine, gin, whisky and other spirits.

Coding challenges can include curved surfaces, condensation, dark glass, coatings and the need to maintain a premium appearance.

Depending on the application, continuous inkjet or laser coding may be appropriate.

CIJ provides flexible non-contact printing for variable information such as batch and production codes. Laser systems can create permanent marks on suitable materials without ink, although suitability depends on the glass, coating and required mark.

Coding aluminium cans

Aluminium cans are increasingly used across beer, cider and ready-to-drink products.

Can coding needs to accommodate curved surfaces and potentially high production speeds. Surface conditions and coatings also need to be considered.

Depending on the application, CIJ or laser technology can be used to apply batch, date and traceability information to cans.

Coding bottle labels

Some manufacturers choose to code the label rather than directly mark the bottle.

The best technology will depend on the label material, coating, available print area, required resolution and when the code is applied during production.

Coding cartons and outer cases

Coding does not stop at the primary package.

Cartons, trays and outer cases may also need product identification, logistics information, barcodes or traceability codes.

Large-character marking and other secondary-packaging technologies can enable manufacturers to print information directly onto cases and reduce dependence on pre-printed packaging or manually applied labels.

6. An unclear batch code makes a recall harder to manage

Traceability becomes particularly important when something goes wrong.

If a manufacturer needs to investigate a production issue, clear batch identification can help determine which products are affected.

If codes are unreadable or inconsistent, identifying the relevant stock becomes more difficult.

A coding problem can therefore turn an already challenging product investigation or withdrawal into a much bigger operational problem.

How to avoid it

Code readability should be tested throughout the production process—not simply as the product leaves the printer.

Check code quality after:

• Printing
• Filling
• Packing
• Handling
• Chilling where applicable
• Storage
• Transport simulations where appropriate

Also consider introducing automated message selection or integration with production systems where this can reduce manual code-entry errors.

A batch code only supports traceability if it is correct and remains readable when it is needed.

7. Weak product identification makes counterfeiting easier

Counterfeit alcoholic beverages can create significant problems for legitimate brands.

Coding alone cannot eliminate counterfeiting, but variable and difficult-to-replicate product identification can form part of a wider brand-protection and authentication strategy.

How to avoid it

Depending on the application, manufacturers can consider technologies capable of producing:

• Unique product identifiers
• Variable codes
• QR codes
• Data Matrix codes
• Fine text
• Logos or graphical marks
• Permanent laser marks

Laser coding can be particularly useful where a permanent mark is required on a compatible substrate.

The appropriate approach should form part of a wider product-authentication strategy rather than relying on one printed code as the sole anti-counterfeit measure.

Which coding technology is best for alcoholic beverages?

Different production environments call for different solutions.

How to choose a coder for an alcoholic beverage production line

Before selecting a coding and marking system, answer these questions.

1. What packaging are you coding?

Glass, aluminium, PET, labels and cardboard have different characteristics.

2. What information needs to be printed?

Consider whether you need batch numbers, lot codes, production dates, time codes, line identification, barcodes or 2D codes.

3. How fast is the production line?

The printer needs to produce a clear code consistently at normal and peak operating speeds.

4. Is the packaging wet or affected by condensation?

This can influence both the coding technology and ink selection.

5. How permanent does the code need to be?

A code that needs to survive prolonged handling or challenging environments may require a different solution from a temporary production mark.

6. How important is the appearance of the code?

For premium wine and spirits packaging in particular, code position and appearance may be important considerations.

7. How frequently do products change?

Frequent SKU changes can make easy message selection and automation particularly valuable.

8. Does the coder need to communicate with other production equipment?

Integration can help reduce manual intervention and support accurate code selection.

9. What happens when the printer needs attention?

Consider maintenance, consumables, operator training and technical support before purchasing—not after installation.

Alcoholic beverage coding for breweries, distilleries and wineries

Different drinks producers can have very different coding priorities.

Brewery coding

Breweries may need to code bottles, aluminium cans, labels, cartons and outer cases, sometimes across the same facility.

High line speeds, packaging changes and wet production conditions can all influence printer selection.

For example, Linx coding equipment is used by Salcombe Brewery for direct coding on aluminium cans and outer packaging, helping the brewery reduce its reliance on manual labels and multiple pre-printed box types.

Distillery coding

For gin, whisky and other spirits, traceability may need to be balanced with premium pack appearance.

Glass bottles can also present coding challenges including curved surfaces, dark glass and limited discreet coding areas.

Depending on the packaging, CIJ or laser technology can provide suitable options.

Wine coding

Wine producers may need lot identification on bottles, labels or secondary packaging.

The best solution depends on where the code is applied, bottle or label material, line configuration and required appearance.

Don’t let coding become the weak link in your beverage line

Poor coding can affect much more than the appearance of a bottle or can.

An unsuitable coding setup can contribute to rework, production interruptions, unreadable batch information, packaging-change problems and unnecessary difficulty when traceability matters most.

The solution starts with understanding the complete application.

Your packaging material, surface condition, production speed, operating environment, required code and future production plans should all influence the coding technology you choose.

Linx offers coding and marking solutions for beverage applications including glass and plastic bottles, aluminium cans, caps, labels, cartons and outer cases, with continuous inkjet, laser and large-character marking technologies available for different requirements.

Test your code on your own alcoholic beverage packaging

Not sure which coding technology will work best on your bottles, cans or packaging?

Send Linx a sample of your packaging together with your required code and production-line details. Our coding specialists can assess the application and help identify a suitable printing solution.

Or explore our Beverage Coding and Marking Solutions to compare coding technologies for bottles, cans, caps, cartons and cases.