What is the expiration date for alcohol-containing products?

Alcohol and tobacco products are harmful to health, but despite this, these products have increased consumer demand.

Although the very fact of smoking and drinking alcohol causes some problems in the body, varying depending on the amount and frequency of consumption, the issue of storage is also relevant for these products. Expired products may not cause even more damage to health, but the declared taste properties will be lost. Therefore, for connoisseurs of quality tobacco and alcoholic beverages, it would be useful to know what the expiration date of alcohol and cigarettes is.

Legislation

At the federal level, there are a number of documents that contain requirements for the composition and properties of alcoholic products:

• GOST 12712-2013 “Special vodkas. General technical conditions";
• GOST 31729-2015 “Wine drinks. General terms and Conditions";
• GOST 33281-2015 “Whisky. Technical conditions";
• GOST 32071-2013 “Alcoholic products. Liqueurs";
• GOST R 56368-2015 “Traditional Russian drinks made from natural raw materials. Technical conditions";
• GOST 12258-79 “Soviet champagne, sparkling and sparkling wines. Method for determining the pressure of carbon dioxide in bottles";
• GOST 31711-2012 “Beer. Technical conditions".

Does vodka have an expiration date?

Wheat vodka is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks, mainly due to its low price. Based on the cooking technology, it is divided into:

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1. Simple. Consists of alcohol, water. Has a shelf life of up to 12 months.
2. Special - with the addition of flavorings and flavor shades. They reduce the period of use to six months.

Only glass containers are suitable for vodka, since other materials will inevitably interact with alcohol. Its aldehydes release toxic substances that are harmful to health.

A full shelf life can only be maintained by liquid in an airtight container that is properly stored. After opening, the alcohol evaporates, the taste and the effect of drinking alcohol are lost.

ADVICE! Opened vodka can be stored for no more than 5 days, since a violation of the seal provokes volatilization of alcohol and a decrease in temperature.

Basic rules for storing vodka

We found out what the maximum shelf life is for strong alcoholic beverages. The manufacturer has the right to install it himself. For medicinal needs and long-term storage, we recommend purchasing pure alcohol without additives. Strength 40%. It is also important to ensure the safety of your supplies. For champagne or wine, you should purchase special shelves and maintain a stable temperature in the room.

Rules according to GOST

According to GOST requirements, strong alcoholic drinks are stored at a temperature of +5-20 degrees. Reduction to zero is allowed. It is not advisable to overheat. The warm product has an unpleasant taste and the aroma changes. Consumption is difficult. Refrigeration and ice cubes will be required.

Other rules:

• only glass. Forgetting plastic bottles. Even a closed container does not ensure complete preservation of properties. Do not use metal utensils. It will spoil the taste of the contents;

• tightness. Otherwise, the alcohol will evaporate long before the expiration date. Instead of alcohol, we get ordinary water. There may be a slight hint of vodka left.

Vodka is afraid of ultraviolet radiation. Choose dark places. Even in winter, the sun's rays heat the product above the recommended standards and destroy the composition.

How to choose a storage location

Closed bottles can be kept indoors. Only choose the coolest places. It is not advisable to leave it in the kitchen or bathroom. Frequent temperature fluctuations will definitely not benefit the product. Other alcohol should also be stored correctly: cognac, Martini, various liqueurs, for example, Baileys.

Features of storing vodka bottles

Suitable places:

• pantry. Dark, dry, calm, nearby - an excellent place for large stocks of unopened bottles;

• basement, cellar They are ideal for closed bottles when vodka is purchased for future use, it is not needed soon, and you want to create a certain reserve;

• fridge. Most often used for a small number of closed bottles. Ideal for uncorked vodka.

The freezer will not extend the shelf life. Freezing requires temperatures below -25 degrees. Home cameras are not capable of such miracles.

Timing and types

View	Deadlines (day)
	Tin	Glass	Plastic	Open	Closed
Vodka	—	6-12	—	3-5	6-12
Cognac/brandy	—	Not an ogre.	—	60-90	Not an ogre.
Malt whiskey, grain whiskey, blended whiskey, bourbon	—		—	60-90
Liquor	—	36-70	—	30-60	36-70
Moonshine	24	24	—	30-60	24
Table wine	—	12-24	—	4	12-24
Fortified	12-24	4	12-24
Sparkling (champagne)	—	36	—	1	36
Vintage	—	Up to 100	—	4	Up to 100
Balm	—	Not an ogre.	—	60-180	Not an ogre.
Beer keg	1-6	—	—	3-5	1-6
Bottled	1-12	1-12	1-12	—	1-12
Draft filtered	1-6	1-6	1-6	3-5	1-6
Unfiltered	1 week	1 week	1 week	3-5	1 week
Live	1 week	1 week	1 week	3-5	1 week
Craft	6	6	6	3-5	6

Proper storage

The storage conditions for each type of alcohol are different. Vodka is a drink that is sensitive to heat and light. It must be stored at room temperature in a dark place. Freezing is contraindicated: the alcohol will not change its qualities, but the additives will precipitate and the vodka will become unusable.

Cognac, brandy, whiskey, subject to storage rules, are not limited by their shelf life. Noble drinks are infused in barrels, poured into glass bottles, and stored under the following conditions:

1. Vertical position is required. Contact with the lid may change the taste and smell.
2. Bottle tightness. The penetration of air and foreign odors is unacceptable, so to be sure, fill the neck with sealing wax.
3. Ambient temperature 5...15 °C.
4. Lack of sunlight.

IMPORTANT! It is preferable to purchase an expensive drink in a darkened glass container placed in a tube. This is how Chivas is sold.

Liqueur can be made according to various recipes. If it does not contain perishable products (milk, eggs, like Baileys), then it can be fully stored for up to 5 years. The specific period is indicated by the manufacturer on the label. Real liqueur can only be sold in glass. Must be hermetically sealed with a lid and kept in a dark place at room temperature.

Moonshine must be poured into thoroughly sterilized, dried containers. An airtight lid is the key to long-term preservation of the temperature and taste properties. The environment must meet the requirements:

• dark room without access to sunlight;
• 5…20 °C;
• humidity up to 85%.

Wine can be stored for different times, depending on the variety and composition:

• white – 2-3 years;
• red – 2-10 years;
• elite vintage - up to 100 years.

Basic rules for preserving the properties of wine:

• temperature 10...15 °C;
• protection from temperature changes, noise, vibrations;
• humidity 60-80%;
• horizontal position of the bottle;
• protection from sunlight and artificial light.

Wine in tetra pack boxes is usually of low quality; it can rather be called a wine drink. Falsified products are often found in such containers.

Champagne does not last long due to the carbon dioxide content, which gradually spoils the taste of the product. Supplied exclusively in glass. To achieve the maximum shelf life (3 years), the following conditions must be met:

• temperature 10...12 °C;
• humidity about 75%;
• horizontal position;
• the room should be well ventilated, protected from light;
• Champagne should only be kept in a closed bottle, as carbon dioxide instantly evaporates.

Martini is an excellent alternative for lovers of non-carbonated drinks.

The balm is considered medicinal, made on the basis of medicinal herbs. It is usually added to tea and coffee. It is perfectly stored in ceramic containers for an unlimited amount of time. It is important to protect the bottle from high temperatures and sunlight.

IMPORTANT! Beer is just as addictive as hard liquor.

There are many types of beer:

• light, dark;
• pasteurized, unpasteurized;
• filtered, unfiltered.

The packaging is also varied:

• kegs – stainless steel barrels with a volume from 5 to 100 liters;
• aluminum cans;
• glass bottles;
• plastic bottles.

Kegs are the best option for storing fresh beer, including unfiltered beer. They are sealed and protect from sunlight and temperature changes. The sales period is longer than bottled, but after opening it is sharply reduced to 3-5 days.

Aluminum cans offer the same benefits as kegs. The only danger is their fragility. The slightest mechanical damage can lead to chipping of a piece of the coating, which can lead to corrosion. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the integrity of the can.

Glass bottles perfectly protect the contents from the penetration of oxygen and microorganisms, but allow light to pass through and heat up quickly. Therefore, it is better to choose dark glass and consume it immediately after the seal of the lid is broken.

Plastic bottles are the most common, although they pose a real danger to human health. After pouring into a PET bottle, beer gradually releases the poison dibutyl phthalate, so it is better to refrain from such a purchase.

The shelf life of beer depends on its composition and the presence of preservatives.

Pasteurized is subjected to temperature treatment at 60...80 ° C, so most pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed. But along with them, useful substances disappear, as well as the natural taste inherent in the drink. The longer the guaranteed storage period, the more exposure the raw materials were exposed to. It can range from 1 to 6 months.

Unpasteurized is stored from several hours to several days, since in the natural environment, the yeast bacteria remain unchanged.

To extend the shelf life, the manufacturer filters the beer. The process removes yeast and hop microparticles. A purified drink in an airtight container will not lose its properties for up to six months.

Unfiltered (live) should be drunk a week in advance, and stored in the refrigerator.

When purchasing draft (craft) it is necessary to clarify the date of uncorking of the general container. Drinking a drink that is more than 3 days old is dangerous. It will be stored in an airtight container for up to six months.

Any beer in a closed container requires compliance with the following conditions:

• temperature regime – no higher than 15 °C;
• sun protection;
• vertical position.

Conditions

At home, alcoholic beverages are stored as follows:

1. Closed bottles, jars - in a cool, dark, ventilated place, away from heat sources.
2. Opened - after use, close the lid tightly and put it in the refrigerator. If the container is not sealed in any way, it is better not to store the drink, but to consume it immediately.

Cigarette storage conditions

Cigarettes do not like open sunlight, high or low humidity, as well as dusty rooms or strong-smelling substances. Therefore, the storage conditions for tobacco products are more stringent than for alcoholic products.

Direct rays of the sun can seriously harm the tobacco contained in cigarette products. Cigars rolled from whole leaves turn into dust from such exposure and are unsuitable for consumption. It is recommended to store tobacco products at temperatures from 15 to +23˚С. Another important indicator is air humidity, it should be within 70%. A higher percentage contributes to the deterioration of the filter and the contents themselves become saturated with moisture. When the humidity drops, the drying process occurs, which also makes the product unsuitable for smoking.

Of course, you can smoke cigarettes under incorrect storage conditions and even after their expiration date, but the taste and aroma qualities will be lost irrevocably, which will not detract from the pleasant sensations of the process.

How to find out if it's overdue

Each type has individual signs of delay:

1. Vodka: cloudiness, presence of sediment, lack of characteristic smell and taste.
2. Cognac, brandy, whiskey: loss of inherent organoleptic properties. Do not deteriorate if storage conditions are met.
3. Liquor: appearance of rancid taste, thickening, drying, separation into fractions.
4. Moonshine: cloudy color, sediment, loss of strength.
5. Wine: sour taste and smell.
6. Champagne: bitter taste, lack of bubbles.
7. Balm: thickening, sediment.
8. Beer: sour smell, sediment, cloudiness, lack of gas.

Features of storing wine drinks

Wine is a capricious drink. To create ideal storage conditions, you need to maintain a constant temperature, even the slightest temperature changes should not be allowed, and you need to monitor the humidity in the room. Humidity should be no more than 75%, otherwise the cork will crumble and become moldy, which will ruin the presentable appearance of the bottle.

Wine is always stored horizontally, as the corks must be saturated with the drink. The ideal wine cork is soft and elastic, and when squeezed with your fingers, it returns to its original shape.

Experts also said that wine should not be stored in a room with constant vibration. The taste of the drink loses its astringency and richness. They call for bottles to be kept away from ventilation systems and doors, as this also creates vibration waves that adversely affect the quality of the product.

Is it possible to drink expired alcohol?

It is definitely unacceptable to consume vodka, beer, champagne, wine, and liquor that have expired. Microorganisms actively multiply in them; they and their metabolic products are toxic to humans and can cause serious poisoning and malfunction of internal organs and systems.

Theoretically, you can drink strong noble drinks, such as whiskey, brandy, cognac, long after production. When properly stored, their properties are retained indefinitely. But this only applies to sealed bottles. The cognac aroma and alcohol will gradually evaporate from the printed one.

The balm, which also does not have a fixed shelf life, is still better to buy “fresh” so that the herbs are as beneficial as possible and have a positive effect on the body.

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Definition of expired goods

Tobacco products do not have an expiration date indicated on the packaging, which makes it difficult for the buyer to select quality products. It should be noted that even established storage periods cannot guarantee the declared quality, because there are certain conditions that must be met to preserve their properties. So how can a buyer determine which product is of high quality and which is not worth buying?

When purchasing alcoholic products, pay attention to the presence of sediment. If the liquid has a cloudy appearance and there are obvious traces of fallen flakes in it, then you should not take such alcohol. When opening a bottle, you need to pay attention to the smell. The presence of an unpleasant aroma, uncharacteristic for this type of product, should alert the consumer.

With cigarettes, everything is a little more complicated; their quality can sometimes be determined only by lighting it. But it is still recommended to avoid buying packs from display cases that are located outdoors, where they can be damaged by the sun, rain or snow.