How does the ABC define an "alcoholic beverage" for enforcement purposes?

• A. A beverage that contains alcohol and is intended for cooking
• B. A beverage that contains alcohol and is intended for beverage use as defined by the Code (includes beer, wine, and distilled spirits)
• C. Any drink offered at a bar
• D. A beverage that contains alcohol and is labeled 'non-alcoholic'

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how enforcement defines what counts as an alcoholic beverage: it is a drink that contains alcohol and is intended for beverage use as defined by the Code, which includes beer, wine, and distilled spirits. This focus on how the product is used (as a drink) and what it contains keeps regulation aimed at beverages meant to be consumed, rather than items used for cooking. That’s why this option fits best—it's precise about both the presence of alcohol and the intended use, and it explicitly recognizes the three primary categories of alcoholic beverages.

Think about why other descriptions don’t fit. A liquid is used for cooking even if it contains alcohol, so it isn’t classified as an alcoholic beverage for enforcement purposes. A drink served at a bar could be non-alcoholic, which would not meet the definition since it must contain alcohol and be intended for beverage use; limiting the scope to “any drink at a bar” is too broad. Labeling also isn’t the deciding factor—if a beverage contains alcohol and is intended for drinking, it falls under the definition regardless of how it’s labeled.