Us Code § 214 - Definitions
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 214 — Definitions, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 214. Definitions
As used in this subchapter—
(1) The term "alcoholic beverage" includes any beverage in liquid form which contains not less than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume and is intended for human consumption.
(2) The term "bottle" means to fill a container with an alcoholic beverage and to seal such container.
(3) The term "bottler" means a person who bottles an alcoholic beverage.
(4) The term "commerce" means—
(A) commerce between any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, the Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, or Johnston Island and any place outside thereof;
(B) commerce between points in any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, the Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, or Johnston Island, but through any place outside thereof; or
(C) commerce wholly within the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, the Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, or Johnston Island.
(5) The term "container" means the innermost sealed container irrespective of the material from which made, in which an alcoholic beverage is placed by the bottler and in which such beverage is offered for sale to members of the general public.
(6) The term "health" includes, but is not limited to, the prevention of accidents.
(7) The term "person" means an individual, partnership, joint stock company, business trust, association, corporation, or any other business or legal entity, including a receiver, trustee, or liquidating agent, and also includes any State, any State agency, or any officer or employee thereof.
(8) The term 1 "sale" and "distribution" include sampling or any other distribution not for sale.
(9) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Treasury.
(10) The term "State" includes any political subdivision of any State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, the Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, or Johnston Island.
(11) The term "State law" includes State statutes, regulations, and principles and rules having the force of law.
(12) The term "United States", when used in geographical sense, includes the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, the Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, and Johnston Island.
(Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 814, title II, §203, as added Pub. L. 100–690, title VIII, §8001(a)(3), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4518.)
About This Section
27 U.S.C. § 214 is part of Title 27 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 27 U.S.C. § 214. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.