Trademark Class 33 Wine, Vodka, Whisky, Rum and Alcoholic Beverages

30-Oct-2024 By Advocate Chandra Kant (Advocate & IPR Consultant)

Trademark Class 33: Wine, Vodka, Whisky, Rum and Alcoholic Beverages -A Complete Guide to EUIPO Classification

Trademark Class 33 primarily covers **alcoholic beverages**, including **spirits, wine, and liqueurs**, as designated by the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office). This class is essential for businesses aiming to protect trademarks in the alcoholic beverage market. Understanding Class 33 and its boundaries ensures correct classification and streamlines the trademark registration process. This article explores the broader categories, specific inclusions, and necessary exclusions of Class 33 to clarify this area of trademark law.

Understanding Trademark Class 33

Trademark Class 33 is designed exclusively for **alcoholic beverages**, setting it apart from other classifications such as **Class 32** (which covers non-alcoholic beverages and beer). Within Class 33, various alcoholic drinks from wine and spirits to liqueurs and aperitifs are included. However, there are essential exclusions, as some goods with alcohol content are classified elsewhere. In this blog, we provide a detailed view of Class 33, ensuring businesses can navigate the EUIPO classification with confidence.

Broader Categories Under Trademark Class 33

Class 33 includes several subcategories of alcoholic beverages. The following sections cover each major category with examples of typical products within each group.

1. Spirits and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages

This category encompasses a wide range of **distilled spirits** and **hard liquors**. These beverages are produced through fermentation and distillation processes, often resulting in a higher alcohol content. Key products include:

Whiskey: Distilled from grains and aged in wooden casks for enhanced flavor.

Vodka: A clear, distilled spirit often made from grains or potatoes.

Rum: A spirit derived from sugarcane or molasses, typically aged in barrels.

Gin: A spirit distilled with juniper berries and other botanicals.

Tequila: A distilled spirit from the blue agave plant, traditionally produced in Mexico.

2. Liqueurs and Cordials

Unlike straight spirits, **liqueurs** and **cordials** are alcoholic beverages sweetened and often flavored with herbs, spices, or fruit. These are typically used in cocktails or enjoyed as digestifs. Examples include:

Amaretto: A sweet, almond-flavored Italian liqueur.

Baileys: A popular cream-based liqueur often added to coffee or enjoyed alone.

Absinthe: Known for its green color and herbal flavor, absinthe is distilled with wormwood and anise.

3. Wines and Sparkling Wines

This category covers various types of **wines** and **sparkling wines** produced by fermenting grapes or other fruits. Some of the main types in this subcategory are:

Red Wine: Wine made from dark-colored grape varieties.

White Wine: Wine produced from white or green grapes, resulting in a light flavor.

Champagne: A sparkling wine specifically from the Champagne region of France.

Rosé Wine: A pink-colored wine produced by limiting the grape skin contact during fermentation.

4. Aperitifs and Digestifs

Aperitifs and digestifs are beverages specifically consumed before or after a meal to aid digestion or enhance appetite. Notable examples include:

Vermouth: A fortified wine flavored with herbs, often used in cocktails.

Campari: A popular Italian aperitif with a bitter, fruity taste.

Grappa: A digestif made from grape pomace, traditionally from Italy.

5. Other Alcoholic Beverages

This category includes **miscellaneous alcoholic beverages** not fitting neatly into the above categories. It is broader and can encompass drinks like sake or specific regional alcoholic beverages. Examples include:

Sake: A traditional Japanese rice wine, typically served warm or cold.

Mead: An alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey with water, sometimes with fruit or spices.

Cider: Fermented apple juice, often with a crisp taste and varying alcohol content.

Which Related Goods/Services Cannot Be Classified Under Class 33

Despite covering a wide range of alcoholic beverages, Trademark Class 33 does not encompass all items related to alcohol. Some products and services that might seem related are classified elsewhere. Here’s a breakdown of goods and services commonly miscategorized under Class 33:

1. Non-Alcoholic Beverages (Including Beer)

All non-alcoholic beverages, including **non-alcoholic beer and sodas**, are classified under **Trademark Class 32**. These drinks are intended for refreshment without the alcohol content typical of Class 33 items.

2. Nutritional and Medicinal Alcoholic Products

Alcoholic products intended for medicinal or dietary purposes fall under **Trademark Class 5** instead of Class 33. This includes tonic wines or alcohol-based medicinal tinctures.

3. Food Products with Alcohol Content

Alcohol-infused foods like chocolates, desserts, and cooking sauces are classified in their respective food classes, often in **Classes 29 or 30**, rather than in Class 33.

Detailed List of Goods Excluded from Class 33

To clarify, here is a detailed list of products often mistakenly associated with Class 33 but actually classified under other classes:

Non-alcoholic beverages (including soft drinks and non-alcoholic beer) – Class 32.

Alcohol-based medicinal products – Class 5.

Alcoholic foods and confectioneries – Classes 29 and 30.

Goods Classified Under Class 33: A Comprehensive List from the EUIPO

Below is the official list of goods classified under Class 33-

Absinthe Trademark Class-33

Acanthopanax wine (Ogapiju) Trademark Class-33

Aguardiente [sugarcane spirits] Trademark Class-33

Akvavit Trademark Class-33

Alcohol (Rice -) Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic aperitif bitters Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic aperitifs Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic beverages containing fruit Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic beverages except beers Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic beverages of fruit Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic bitters Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic carbonated beverages, except beer Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic cocktail mixes Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic cocktails Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic cocktails containing milk Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic cocktails in the form of chilled gelatins Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic coffee-based beverage Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic cordials Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic egg nog Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic energy drinks Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic essences Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic essences and extracts Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic extracts Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic fruit beverages Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic fruit cocktail drinks Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic fruit extracts Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic jellies Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic preparations for making beverages Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic punches Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic seltzers Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic tea-based beverage Trademark Class-33

Alcoholic wines Trademark Class-33

Alcopops Trademark Class-33

Anise [liqueur] Trademark Class-33

Anisette Trademark Class-33

Anisette [liqueur] Trademark Class-33

Aperitif wines Trademark Class-33

Aperitifs Trademark Class-33

Aperitifs with a distilled alcoholic liquor base Trademark Class-33

Aquavit Trademark Class-33

Arak Trademark Class-33

Arak [arrack] Trademark Class-33

Arrack Trademark Class-33

Baijiu [Chinese distilled alcoholic beverage] Trademark Class-33

Beverages (Alcoholic -), except beer Trademark Class-33

Beverages containing wine [spritzers] Trademark Class-33

Beverages (Distilled -) Trademark Class-33

Bitters Trademark Class-33

Black raspberry wine (Bokbunjaju) Trademark Class-33

Blackberry wine Trademark Class-33

Blackcurrant liqueur Trademark Class-33

Blended whisky Trademark Class-33

Brandy Trademark Class-33

Cachaca Trademark Class-33

Cherry brandy Trademark Class-33

Chinese brewed liquor (laojiou) Trademark Class-33

Chinese mixed liquor (wujiapie-jiou) Trademark Class-33

Chinese spirit of sorghum (gaolian-jiou) Trademark Class-33

Chinese white liquor (baiganr) Trademark Class-33

Cider Trademark Class-33

Ciders Trademark Class-33

Cocktails Trademark Class-33

Coffee-based liqueurs Trademark Class-33

Cooking brandy Trademark Class-33

Cooking wine Trademark Class-33

Cordials [alcoholic beverages] Trademark Class-33

Cream liqueurs Trademark Class-33

Curacao Trademark Class-33

Dessert wines Trademark Class-33

Digestifs [liqueurs and spirits] Trademark Class-33

Distilled beverages Trademark Class-33

Distilled rice spirits [awamori] Trademark Class-33

Distilled spirits Trademark Class-33

Distilled spirits of rice (awamori) Trademark Class-33

Dry cider Trademark Class-33

Extracts of spiritous liquors Trademark Class-33

Fermented spirit Trademark Class-33

Flavored brewed alcoholic malt beverages, except beers Trademark Class-33

Flavored tonic liquors Trademark Class-33

Fortified wines Trademark Class-33

Fruit (Alcoholic beverages containing -) Trademark Class-33

Fruit extracts, alcoholic Trademark Class-33

Fruit wine Trademark Class-33

Gaolian-jiou [sorghum-based Chinese spirits] Trademark Class-33

Gin Trademark Class-33

Ginseng liquor Trademark Class-33

Grain-based distilled alcoholic beverages Trademark Class-33

Grape wine Trademark Class-33

Herb liqueurs Trademark Class-33

Hulless barley liquor Trademark Class-33

Hydromel [mead] Trademark Class-33

Japanese liquor containing mamushi-snake extracts Trademark Class-33

Japanese liquor containing herb extracts Trademark Class-33

Japanese liquor flavored with Japanese plum extracts Trademark Class-33

Japanese liquor flavored with pine needle extracts Trademark Class-33

Japanese regenerated liquors (naoshi) Trademark Class-33

Japanese sweet grape wine containing extracts of ginseng and cinchona bark Trademark Class-33

Japanese sweet rice-based mixed liquor (shiro-zake) Trademark Class-33

Japanese white liquor (shochu) Trademark Class-33

Kirsch Trademark Class-33

Korean distilled spirits (soju) Trademark Class-33

Korean traditional rice wine (makgeoli) Trademark Class-33

Liqueurs Trademark Class-33

Liqueurs containing cream Trademark Class-33

Liquor-based aperitifs Trademark Class-33

Low alcoholic drinks Trademark Class-33

Low-alcoholic wine Trademark Class-33

Makkoli Trademark Class-33

Malt whisky Trademark Class-33

Mead [hydromel] Trademark Class-33

Mulled wine Trademark Class-33

Mulled wines Trademark Class-33

Natural sparkling wines Trademark Class-33

Naturally sparkling wines Trademark Class-33

Nira [sugarcane-based alcoholic beverage] Trademark Class-33

Peppermint liqueurs Trademark Class-33

Perry Trademark Class-33

Piquette Trademark Class-33

Plum wine Trademark Class-33

Potable spirits Trademark Class-33

Pre-mixed alcoholic beverages Trademark Class-33

Pre-mixed alcoholic beverages, other than beer-based Trademark Class-33

Preparations for making alcoholic beverages Trademark Class-33

Prepared alcoholic cocktails Trademark Class-33

Prepared wine cocktails Trademark Class-33

Red ginseng liquor Trademark Class-33

Red wine Trademark Class-33

Rice alcohol Trademark Class-33

Rose wines Trademark Class-33

Rum Trademark Class-33

Rum [alcoholic beverage] Trademark Class-33

Rum-based beverages Trademark Class-33

Rum punch Trademark Class-33

Sake Trademark Class-33

Sake substitutes Trademark Class-33

Sangria Trademark Class-33

Schnapps Trademark Class-33

Shochu (spirits) Trademark Class-33

Soju Trademark Class-33

Sorghum-based Chinese spirits Trademark Class-33

Sparkling fruit wine Trademark Class-33

Sparkling grape wine Trademark Class-33

Sparkling red wines Trademark Class-33

Sparkling white wines Trademark Class-33

Sparkling wine Trademark Class-33

Sparkling wines Trademark Class-33

Spirits Trademark Class-33

Spirits [beverages] Trademark Class-33

Still wine Trademark Class-33

Strawberry wine Trademark Class-33

Sugar cane juice rum Trademark Class-33

Sugarcane-based alcoholic beverages Trademark Class-33

Sweet cider Trademark Class-33

Sweet wine Trademark Class-33

Table wines Trademark Class-33

Tonic liquor containing herb extracts (homeishu) Trademark Class-33

Tonic liquor containing mamushi-snake extracts (mamushi-zake) Trademark Class-33

Tonic liquor flavored with japanese plum extracts (umeshu) Trademark Class-33

Tonic liquor flavored with pine needle extracts (matsuba-zake) Trademark Class-33

Vermouth Trademark Class-33

Vodka Trademark Class-33

Waxberry wine Trademark Class-33

Whiskey Trademark Class-33

Whiskey [whisky] Trademark Class-33

Whisky Trademark Class-33

White wine Trademark Class-33

White wines Trademark Class-33

Wine Trademark Class-33

Wine-based aperitifs Trademark Class-33

Wine-based beverages Trademark Class-33

Wine-based drinks Trademark Class-33

Wine coolers [drinks] Trademark Class-33

Wine punch Trademark Class-33

Wines Trademark Class-33

Yellow rice wine Trademark Class-33

Conclusion: Trademark Class 33 for Alcoholic Beverages

Trademark Class 33 provides a comprehensive classification for alcoholic beverages, spanning spirits, wines, liqueurs, and more. Knowing which products belong within Class 33 and understanding the exclusions ensures the accurate registration of trademarks, helping protect brand identity in the competitive alcoholic beverage market. This guide aims to simplify the classification process and support businesses in securing trademark protections within the correct category.