---
kind: "range"
citation: "27 C.F.R. §§ 31.151–31.163"
title: "27"
from: "31.151"
to: "31.163"
count: 13
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/27/31.151..31.163"
---

# §31.151. General requirements as to distilled spirits.


Except as otherwise provided in §§ [31.153](/cfr/27/31.153.md) and [31.154](/cfr/27/31.154.md), every wholesale dealer in liquors must keep daily records of the physical receipt and disposition of distilled spirits in accordance with §§ [31.155](/cfr/27/31.155.md) and [31.156](/cfr/27/31.156.md). When required in writing by the appropriate TTB officer, a wholesale dealer in liquors must also prepare and file a monthly summary report totaling the daily receipts and disposition of distilled spirits in accordance with [§ 31.160](/cfr/27/31.160.md).


# §31.152. Requirements as to wines and beer.


Every wholesale dealer in liquors who receives wines, or wines and beer, and every wholesale dealer in beer must keep at the dealer's place of business a complete record showing the quantities of wine and beer received, from whom the wine and beer were received, and the dates of receipt. This record, which must be kept for a period of not less than three years as prescribed in [§ 31.191](/cfr/27/31.191.md), shall consist of all purchase invoices or bills covering wines and beer received or, at the option of the dealer, a book record containing all of the required information. Wholesale dealers are not required to prepare or submit reports to the appropriate TTB officer of transactions relating to wines and beer.


# §31.153. Records to be kept by States, political subdivisions of States, or the District of Columbia.


The provisions of this subpart regarding the maintenance of records and the submission of reports shall not apply to States, political subdivisions of States, or the District of Columbia, or to any liquor stores operated by such entities that maintain, and make available for inspection by appropriate TTB officers, records that will enable TTB to verify receipts of wines and beer and to trace readily all distilled spirits received and disposed of by those entities. However, States, political subdivisions of States, and the District of Columbia, and liquor stores operated by such entities, must, on request of the appropriate TTB officer, furnish such transcripts, summaries, and copies of records with respect to distilled spirits as that TTB officer may require.


# §31.154. Records to be kept by alcohol beverage producers, processors, and bonded warehousemen.


Wholesale liquor dealer operations conducted by brewers and by proprietors of distilled spirits plants, bonded wine cellars, bonded wine warehouses, and taxpaid wine bottling houses must be recorded and reported in accordance with the applicable provisions of parts [19](/cfr/27/part19.md), [24](/cfr/27/part24.md), and 25 of this chapter. To the extent that the same transactions are required to be recorded or reported by this part and by parts [19](/cfr/27/part19.md), [24](/cfr/27/part24.md), or 25, the records and reports required by those parts will satisfy the requirements of this part.


# §31.155. Records of receipt.

- (a) **Information required.** Every wholesale dealer in liquors must maintain a daily record of the physical receipt of each individual lot or shipment of distilled spirits. This record must show, at a minimum, the following:
  - (1) Name and address of consignor;
  - (2) Date of receipt, including date of inventory for recorded gains;
  - (3) Brand name;
  - (4) **Name of producer or bottler.** However, this may be omitted if the dealer keeps available for inspection a separate list or record identifying the producer or bottler with the brand name;
  - (5) **Kind of spirits.** However, this may be omitted if the dealer keeps available for inspection a separate list or record identifying “kind” with the brand name;
  - (6) Quantity actually received, showing number of packages, if any, and number of cases by size of bottle, and explaining any difference from the quantity shown on the commercial papers covering the shipment; and
  - (7) Package identification numbers of containers of alcohol received for repackaging for industrial use pursuant to subpart L of this part.
- (b) **Form of record.** The record required by [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must be a part of the accounting system and must consist of consignors' invoices (or, if those invoices are not available on the day the shipment is received, memorandum receiving records prepared on the day of receipt of the distilled spirits, including records of inventory for recorded gains) and credit memorandums covering distilled spirits returned to the dealer.

# §31.156. Records of disposition.

- (a) **Information required.** Every wholesale dealer in liquors must prepare a daily record of the physical disposition of each individual lot of distilled spirits. This record must show, at a minimum, the following:
  - (1) Name and address of consignee;
  - (2) Date of disposition, including date of discovery in the case of casualty, theft or recorded inventory losses;
  - (3) Brand name;
  - (4) **Kind of spirits.** However, this may be omitted if the dealer keeps available for inspection a separate list or record identifying “kind” with the brand name;
  - (5) Number of packages, if any, and number of cases by size of bottle; and
  - (6) Package identification numbers of containers of alcohol repackaged for industrial use pursuant to subpart L of this part.
- (b) **Form of record.** The record required by [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section must be part of the accounting system and must consist of wholesale dealer's invoices (or, if those invoices are not available at the time the spirits are removed, memorandum shipping records prepared at the time of removal of the distilled spirits, including date of discovery in the case of casualty, theft or recorded inventory losses).

# §31.157. Canceled or corrected records.


Entries on the records of receipt and disposition prescribed by §§ [31.155](/cfr/27/31.155.md) and [31.156](/cfr/27/31.156.md) must not be erased or obliterated. Correction or deletion of any entry must be accomplished by drawing a line through the entry and inserting an appropriate correction or explanation. If a wholesale dealer in liquors voids an invoice for any reason, the file copy prescribed in [§ 31.181](/cfr/27/31.181.md) must be marked “Cancelled” and must be filed as provided in that section; any remaining copy of the voided invoice must be destroyed or similarly cancelled and filed. If a new invoice is prepared, its serial number must be cross referenced on any retained copies of the cancelled invoice.


# §31.158. Previously prescribed or approved records of receipt and disposition.


A wholesale dealer in liquors may continue to use records of receipt and disposition in a format previously prescribed or approved. Those records must show the information required by [paragraph (a)](/cfr/27/31.155.md?p=a) of § 31.155 or [paragraph (a)](/cfr/27/31.156.md?p=a) of § 31.156, as applicable. The records must be preprinted with the name and address of the wholesale dealer. Each sheet or page must bear a preprinted serial number, or page serial numbers may be affixed in unbroken sequence during the preparation or processing of the records. A serial number must not be duplicated within a period of 6 months.


# §31.159. Variations in format or preparation of records.

- (a) **Authorization.** The appropriate TTB officer may approve variations in the type and format of records of receipt and disposition required under §§ [31.155](/cfr/27/31.155.md) and [31.156](/cfr/27/31.156.md), or in the methods of preparing those records, when it is shown that variations from the requirements are necessary in order to use data processing equipment, other business machines, or existing accounting systems, and provided that the variation will not unduly hinder the effective administration of this part, jeopardize the revenue, or be contrary to any provision of law. A dealer who wishes to employ such a variation must submit a written application to the appropriate TTB officer. The application must describe the proposed variation and set forth the need for it. Variations in type and format of records or methods of preparation must not be employed until approval is received from the appropriate TTB officer.
- (b) **Requirements.** Any information required by this part to be kept or filed is subject to the provisions of law and this part relating to required records and reports, regardless of the form or manner in which kept or filed.

# §31.160. Monthly summary report.

- (a) **Requirement.** Every wholesale dealer in liquors must, when required, submit monthly to the appropriate TTB officer a summary report of the total quantities of all distilled spirits received and disposed of daily during the month (including the date of discovery for theft, casualty and inventory losses and inventory gains). This report must be posted by the wholesaler on a daily basis. If there were no receipts or disposals of distilled spirits during the month, the report must be marked “No Transactions During Month.” This report must be filed not later than the 15th day of the month following the report period, with a copy retained by the dealer. The appropriate TTB officer may authorize a dealer, upon request, to post the report less frequently until otherwise notified; the appropriate TTB officer's authorization will specify the intervals at which the posting will be accomplished, but not less frequently than monthly.
- (b) **Form of report.** When required under [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, the monthly summary report may be prepared in a format that is adapted to the dealer's accounting and recordkeeping systems. In addition to any other information shown therein, the report must include:
  - (1) Daily totals of all bottled spirits received and disposed of, recorded by wine gallons or liters;
  - (2) Daily totals of all bulk spirits in packages received and disposed of, recorded by proof gallons; and
  - (3) Entries showing, by date, each disposition caused by an inventory, casualty, or theft loss and each receipt caused by a recorded gain in inventory.
- (c) **Declaration.** When required to be filed, the monthly summary report must bear the following declaration signed by the dealer or an authorized agent:
- (d) **Other records.** Even if the monthly summary report is not required by the appropriate TTB officer, every wholesale dealer in distilled spirits must maintain and make available for review by appropriate TTB officers:
  - (1) Records of receipt required by [§ 31.155](/cfr/27/31.155.md);
  - (2) Records of disposition, required by [§ 31.156](/cfr/27/31.156.md); and
  - (3) Any other supporting information or documents regarding the receipt and disposition of distilled spirits that have a direct role in determining the completeness and accuracy of the receipt and disposition records.

# §31.161. Conversion between metric and U.S. units.


When liters are converted to wine gallons, the quantity in liters must be multiplied by 0.264172 to determine the equivalent quantity in wine gallons. Once converted to wine gallons, the proof gallons of spirits in cases must be determined as provided in [§ 30.52](/cfr/27/30.52.md) of this chapter. Cases containing the same quantity of spirits of the same proof in metric bottles may be converted to U.S. units by multiplying the liters in one case by the number of cases to be converted, as follows:

- (a) If the conversion from liters to U.S. units is made before multiplying by the number of cases, the quantity in U.S. units must be rounded to the sixth decimal; and
- (b) If the conversion is made after multiplying by the number of cases, the quantity in U.S. units must be rounded to the nearest hundredth.

# §31.162. Discontinuance of business.


When a wholesale dealer in liquors who is required, under [§ 31.160](/cfr/27/31.160.md), to file a monthly summary report discontinues business, a monthly summary report marked “Final” must be filed covering transactions through the date of discontinuance.


# §31.163. Requirements when a wholesale dealer in liquors maintains a retail department.

- (a) **Constructive receipt and sale.** When a wholesale dealer in liquors maintains a separate department on the premises for the retailing of distilled spirits, and the retail sales of distilled spirits normally represent 90 percent or more of the volume of distilled spirits sold, the dealer may “constructively” receive all distilled spirits in the retail department. Sales involving a wholesale transaction may be “constructively” sold through the wholesale department.
  - (1) **Receipts.** In lieu of maintaining and preparing the records required by [§ 31.155](/cfr/27/31.155.md), a wholesale dealer may constructively receive all distilled spirits in its retail department. In this case, the receiving document will serve as a receipt for (through) the wholesale department and a disposition (transfer) to the retail department. The receiving document must be maintained by the retail department in accordance with [§ 31.171](/cfr/27/31.171.md).
  - (2) **Dispositions.** In lieu of maintaining and preparing the records required by [§ 31.156](/cfr/27/31.156.md), a wholesale dealer may constructively sell distilled spirits from its retail department to other dealers. The sales invoice or bill must be filed in the wholesaler's disposition records and will serve as a record of receipt from the retail department and a record of disposition to another dealer.
- (b) **Receipt and disposition records.** Except as provided in [paragraph (a)](#a) of this section, a wholesale dealer must prepare and maintain the required records of receipt and disposition as prescribed in §§ [31.155](/cfr/27/31.155.md) and [31.156](/cfr/27/31.156.md). Transfers between the wholesale and retail departments will be treated in the same manner as any other transaction involving the wholesale department.
- (c) **Monthly summary report.** When required by [§ 31.160](/cfr/27/31.160.md), a wholesale dealer must prepare and file the monthly summary report of actual or constructive receipts and dispositions of all distilled spirits.
- (d) **Physical separation.** Wholesale and retail departments need not be physically separated.