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Alcohol Glossary

ABV (alcohol by volume)

Strength, measurement and labelling

Abbreviation: ABV · Also: alcohol by volume

Summary: ABV expresses alcoholic strength as the percentage of a product's volume that is alcohol, measured at 20°C for UK duty purposes.

Reference: Alcoholic products technical guide (opens in a new tab)

HM Revenue and Customs · Reference checked 21 July 2026

Where to look: Section 11.2, Alcoholic strength

The summary above is a concise paraphrase of the cited material. It is not a quotation or a complete statement of law.

Glossary last reviewed .