Determination of alcohol content

Spirit producers have to use an alcoholometer in accordance with recommendation R44 (edition 1985) of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) to determine the alcohol content of their spirits and ethanol mixtures. It determines both the alcohol content expressed as a volume percent and the temperature of the mixture in degrees Celsius. Given that the alcohol content changes depending on the temperature, the strength always has to be given at the reference temperature of 20 °Celsius.

App for iPhones and Android smartphones

There is an alcohol calculation app called Calco-Rechner for quick and reliable conversions. Operating instructions are provided down low.

Verification with an XML interface

Thanks to an XML interface, the verification program can easily be integrated in other applications. The data has to be entered in an XML file for the calculation, added to the program and then the calculation started. The calculated values are shown like the entered data in an XML file, and further processing is thus simple. 

Alcoholometric tables

The alcoholometric tables are used to determine the alcohol content by percent mass, by percent volume as well as by density. METAS is responsible for the publication of the alcoholometric tables in electronic form.

Contact

Federal Office for Customs and Border Security FOCBS
Alcohol Sector
Route de la Mandchourie 25
2800 Delémont

Tel.
+41 58 462 65 00
Fax
+41 58 463 18 28

alkohol@bazg.admin.ch

Print contact

https://www.bazg.admin.ch/content/bazg/en/home/themen/alcohol/inlandproduktion/alkoholgehaltsbestimmung.html