Georgia · Direct-to-Consumer Compliance · Category 03 of 24

Beverages

Shelf-stable drink mixes and teas vs. TCS beverages vs. alcoholic beverages — three very different paths in Georgia

Dual-Path — Read Carefully

Cottage Food Eligible

Dry mixes

Licensed Facility

Fresh juice/kombucha

GA DOR License

Alcohol

None on cottage tier

Cap

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ Generally Covered

Dry tea blends, drink mix powders, shelf-stable syrups (high-sugar/high-acid) under cottage food
Selling non-alcoholic cottage beverages direct, at markets, and now to retail stores under HB 398
Licensed on-site tastings at a Georgia farm winery, brewery, or distillery with the correct DOR license
Shipping up to 12 cases of wine per year to a Georgia household under a Special Order Shipping License (out-of-state wineries)

✕ Needs More / Watch Out

Fresh-pressed juice, kombucha with active culture, or dairy-based drinks — these are TCS and need a GDA-licensed facility
Any alcoholic beverage production or sale without a Manufacturer, Farm Winery, Brewery, or Distillery license from GA Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division
Serving prepared food at a brewery/winery/distillery without a local health department food service permit
Assuming cider is treated like beer — Georgia's farm winery rules only cover wine, cider, and mead, not beer

Three Steps to Compliance

Sort your beverage by risk tier

Shelf-stable, non-TCS drink mixes and teas follow the cottage food rules in the Baked Goods guide. Anything requiring refrigeration for safety (fresh juice, kombucha, dairy drinks) needs a GDA food sales establishment license.

For alcohol, license with GA DOR

Wineries need a Winery or Farm Winery License (40%+ Georgia-grown content) from the Dept. of Revenue's Alcohol & Tobacco Division; every label needs registration; direct-to-consumer wine shipping is capped at 12 cases/household/year.

Separate food service from manufacturing

If you sell food alongside drinks at a tasting room, you need a local health department food service permit in addition to your manufacturing/wholesale registration with GDA's Manufactured Food Section.

Quick Reference

Dry tea/drink mixes	Cottage Food Eligible — no license, HB 398 rules apply
Fresh juice / kombucha / dairy drinks	Licensed Facility Required — GDA food sales establishment license
Wine / cider / mead (in-state)	Winery or Farm Winery License, GA Dept. of Revenue
Beer	Brewery license — no farm-winery-style exemption exists for beer
Out-of-state wine shipped to GA consumer	Special Order Shipping License, 12-case/year cap
Food served at tasting room	Local health dept. food service permit, separate from alcohol license

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell bottled sweet tea from my home kitchen?

If it's shelf-stable and properly acidified/sweetened to be non-TCS, yes, under cottage food rules — if it needs refrigeration for safety, you need a licensed facility.

Is kombucha cottage-food eligible in Georgia?

Generally no — active-culture kombucha is treated as TCS/potentially hazardous and needs GDA licensing, plus alcohol-content testing since fermentation can push it near the 0.5% ABV line.

What's a Farm Winery License?

A Georgia Dept. of Revenue license for wineries using at least 40% Georgia-grown agricultural product, allowing certain direct retail and tasting-room privileges beyond a standard winery license.

Can breweries sell direct to consumers the way farm wineries can?

Not identically — Georgia's farm winery exemption is unique to wine/cider/mead; breweries operate under separate, generally more restrictive, direct-sale rules.

Printable Checklist

Classify beverage as non-TCS (cottage) or TCS (licensed facility)
If alcoholic, confirm correct DOR license type before producing
Register every alcohol label with DOR Alcohol & Tobacco Division
Track wine shipment volume against 12-case/household/year cap
Get local health dept. food permit if serving food on-site
Confirm cottage tea/mix labels meet HB 398 requirements

MarketStand · Georgia Producer Compliance Series

This guide is general information, not legal advice, current as of September 2026. Georgia's cottage food, meat inspection, dairy, egg, plant, feed, and alcohol rules change — always verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (agr.georgia.gov), Georgia Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division, and your local health department before selling.

Primary sources: Georgia Dept. of Agriculture (Cottage Food, Meat Inspection, Egg Law, Live Plant Program, Feed/Pet Food Program); HB 398 (2025); Georgia Raw Dairy Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-450 et seq.; Georgia Meat Inspection Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-60; Georgia Food Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-20; GA Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division; FDA (DSHEA, MoCRA, FSMA Produce Safety Rule, 21 CFR 108/111/113/114).