Arizona's liquor laws get a new cider definition (up to 8.5% alcohol), revised definitions of distilled spirits and spirituous liquor, an exclusion for federally approved nonbeverage products, and wider grounds for temporary interim permits at a previously licensed location, while most other edits swap "manufacture" for "produce."
Official title: liquor; policies; procedures
- January 1, 2027 (from and after December 31, 2026): Most changes, including the definitions, wine labeling, exemptions and tax definitions
- September 12, 2026: Interim permit changes and the repeal of section 4-225
What changes
BeforeCider was not defined in the liquor licensing law. For tax purposes, cider was a type of wine-like (vinous) liquor with more than 0.5% and not more than 7% alcohol.
NowCider is defined in the liquor law as a drink fermented from apple, pear or other pome fruit juice with more than 0.5% and not more than 8.5% alcohol. It is listed as a spirituous liquor, and the tax law uses this same definition and no longer counts cider as vinous liquor.
BeforeThe definitions of spirituous liquor and distilled spirits included "bitters containing alcohol" and "fruits preserved in ardent spirits."
NowThose items are removed. Distilled spirits now include drinks over 0.5% alcohol made by distilling or rectifying fermented material. Spirituous liquor does not include nonbeverage products that the federal alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau qualifies under federal rules, and the liquor law does not apply to those products.
BeforeThe director could issue an interim permit at a location where a license was surrendered under department rules, or in the other listed situations.
NowThe director may also issue an interim permit when the license at that location expired or was terminated, canceled or not in use. This applies regardless of whether the license is transferable and regardless of whether it was used in the past 3 years.
BeforeA wine could be labeled as coming from a federally recognized viticultural area if at least 85% of it came from fruit grown in Arizona.
NowAt least 85% must come from fruit grown within a federally recognized viticultural area located in Arizona.
BeforeThe liquor tax law had its own definitions of spirituous liquor, malt liquor and vinous liquor, and the liquor law's definition of veteran did not list the space force.
NowThe tax law now uses the liquor law's definitions of spirituous liquor, beer, cider and craft distiller, and new definitions of malt liquor and vinous liquor that match the liquor law's beer and wine definitions. Veterans of the space force are now included in the definition of veteran.
Who it affects
- Cider makers and sellers
- Liquor license holders and applicants
- Arizona wineries that use viticultural-area labels
- Makers and sellers of nonbeverage alcohol products
- Space force veterans (for club guest and underage-entry rules tied to veterans)
- Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
- Arizona Department of Revenue
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- What the repealed section 4-225 covered
- Whether the luxury tax rate on cider changes now that cider is no longer counted as vinous liquor
- Which specific products qualify as nonbeverage products under the federal rules
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.