Low-point beer

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Low-point beer, also known as 3.2 ("three-two") beer, is any beer (or in some cases any alcoholic beverage) containing at most 3.2% alcohol by weight (or 4% alcohol by volume). The term "Low-point beer" is unique to the United States, where some states limit the sale of beer; however, similar products are available in countries such as Sweden and Finland that tax or otherwise regulate beer according to alcohol content.

The states of Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Utah allow general establishments such as supermarket chains and convenience stores to sell only low-point beer.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} In these states, all alcoholic beverages containing more than 3.2% alcohol by weight (ABW) must be sold from state-licensed liquor stores. Oklahoma additionally requires that any beverage containing more than 3.2% ABW be sold at normal room temperature.^[6]

Missouri also has a legal classification for low-point beer, which it calls "nonintoxicating beer."^[7] Unlike Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Utah, however, Missouri does not limit supermarket chains and convenience stores to selling only low-point beer. Instead, Missouri's alcohol laws allow grocery stores, drug stores, gas stations, and even "general merchandise stores" (a term which Missouri law does not define) to obtain licenses to sell any alcoholic beverage,^[8] and thus low-point beer is rarely seen in Missouri today.

"Near beer" sometimes is confused with 3.2 beer, although the two beverage types are very different. So called "near beer" contains no more than 0.5 ABV. ^[9]

See also

• Alcohol laws of the United States by state
• Alcohol laws of Kansas
• Alcohol laws of Missouri
• Alcohol laws of New York
• Alcohol laws of North Carolina
• Alcohol laws of Oklahoma
• Low-alcohol beer

References