Beverages

Lemonades, syrups, tonics, kombucha & farm cider

Split Path
0.5%ABV line that triggers alcohol rules
2cottage laws cover non-alcoholic drinks
ATCpermit needed for any alcohol
In-statedelivery only

What's Covered  /  What Needs a Different Path

✓ Covered here

  • Shelf-stable lemonade, fruit syrups, shrubs, and herbal tonics under cottage vendor law
  • Low-and-slow kombucha under 0.5% ABV, refrigerated and sold fresh (Homestead Vendor TCS path)
  • Roasted-bean and loose-leaf drink bases (see the Coffee & Tea guide)

✗ Needs a different path

  • Any beverage at or above 0.5% ABV – hard cider, beer, wine, mead, and spirits
  • Home-canned low-acid vegetable juices (botulism risk – licensed facility only)
  • Out-of-state shipping of any beverage under the cottage exemptions

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Classify your drink

Confirm your beverage is non-alcoholic and either shelf-stable (cottage-eligible) or a refrigerated TCS item (Homestead Vendor path with a food handler cert).

B

Get an ATC permit for any alcohol

Farm wineries, craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries all need an Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission permit regardless of production size – there is no home-based exemption.

C

Label and cold-chain correctly

State the home-produced disclaimer, ingredients, and net volume; keep TCS drinks like kombucha under refrigeration from bottling to sale.

Quick Reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Non-alcoholic, shelf-stableCottage-eligible, no licenseIC 16-42-5.3
Refrigerated TCS beveragesHomestead Vendor registrationIC 16-42-5.4
Any alcoholic beverageATC manufacturer permit requiredIndiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission
Low-acid canned juiceLicensed facility (LACF registration)FDA 21 CFR 113

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell homemade hard cider at a farmers market?

Not without an Indiana ATC permit – alcohol production has no cottage-food carve-out no matter how small the batch.

Is kombucha cottage-eligible?

Yes, as long as it stays under 0.5% ABV and you handle it as a refrigerated TCS product under the Homestead Vendor law.

Do I need a permit for lemonade stands?

A simple shelf-stable lemonade or syrup sold direct to consumers is cottage-eligible with no state license.

Can I ship bottled tonics to another state?

No – both Indiana cottage laws limit delivery and shipping to in-state destinations.

Printable Checklist

Confirm ABV is truly under 0.5% for any fermented drink
Choose cottage vs. Homestead path based on TCS status
Apply for an ATC permit for anything alcoholic
Keep kombucha and other TCS drinks refrigerated
Add home-produced disclaimer and net volume to labels
Restrict delivery/shipping to Indiana addresses