Trademark Class 33: Alcoholic Beverages (Except Beer)
Class 33 of the Nice Classification covers wine, spirits, liqueurs and other alcoholic drinks, except beer. If you distil, blend, bottle or import liquor under your own label in India, this is the class your Form TM-A should name.
What class 33 covers
The official class heading reads: “Alcoholic beverages, except beers; alcoholic preparations for making beverages.” In short, every alcoholic drink except beer.
The explanatory note names wines, fortified wines, alcoholic cider, perry, spirits, liqueurs, alcoholic essences, alcoholic fruit extracts and bitters. India’s Trade Marks Registry classifies goods by the current Nice edition, NCL 13-2026, in force since 1 January 2026, under the Trade Marks Act, 1999 and the Trade Marks Rules, 2017.
Common goods in class 33
Spirits
- Whisky, rum, vodka, gin
- Brandy and tequila
- Country and traditional spirits
- Pre-mixed alcoholic drinks (not beer-based)
Wines and ciders
- Still and sparkling wine
- Fortified wine
- Alcoholic cider and perry
- Fruit wines
Liqueurs and preparations
- Liqueurs and cordials
- Bitters
- Alcoholic essences
- Alcoholic fruit extracts
What is not in class 33
These look close but belong elsewhere:
| Item | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Beer, including craft beer | Class 32 |
| De-alcoholised wine or beer | Class 32 |
| Soda water and soft drinks used as mixers | Class 32 |
| Medicinal beverages | Class 5 |
| Running a bar or pub | Class 43 |
| Retail sale of liquor | Class 35 |
Here is the catch: a Faridabad bottler that files only in class 33 and later launches a beer under the same name has no registration for the beer. Plan both classes on day one.
Who usually files in class 33
Distilleries and blenders
Whisky, rum, vodka and gin makers, including craft distilleries.
Wineries and cider makers
Grape and fruit wineries and cider makers protecting label names.
Brand owners using contract bottling
Companies that own a liquor brand but get it produced and bottled by a licensed manufacturer. The brand owner should hold the trademark, not the bottler.
Tips before filing
Search classes 33 and 32 together
Examiners can treat beer and other alcoholic drinks as closely related goods. So search the IP India register first in both classes, by word and by sound, before you print a single label.
Write a specification that matches your products
List what you make, such as “whisky; rum; vodka”, instead of copying the whole class heading. A tight list is easier to defend against non-use attacks later.
Keep the excise approval separate
A trademark protects the brand name. It does not give you the right to make or sell liquor; state excise licences and label approvals are a separate track. Run them together.
File before the launch
The application date fixes your priority. We recommend filing the trademark application as soon as the name is final, even if bottling starts months later.
Frequently asked questions
Is beer covered in trademark class 33?
No. Beer falls in Class 32, along with de-alcoholised drinks and soft drinks. Class 33 covers every other alcoholic drink, such as wine, whisky, rum and liqueurs. If your brand sells both beer and spirits, you need protection in both classes. One Form TM-A can cover both, with the fee charged per class.
Can one application cover class 33 and class 32 together?
Yes. Section 18(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 allows a single application for several classes, but the government fee is charged for each class. So a brand filed in class 33 and class 32 pays two class fees on one Form TM-A. We will tell you which classes are worth the fee before we file.
Does a class 33 trademark let me sell liquor?
No. A trademark registration only gives you the exclusive right to use the brand name for the goods listed. Making, bottling or selling liquor still needs the licences and label approvals of the state excise department concerned. Starting the trademark early protects the name while the excise paperwork moves ahead, so you lose no time.
How long does a class 33 registration last?
A registered trademark lasts ten years and can be renewed every ten years after that without limit. Under Section 23(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 the registration counts from the date of application, and Section 25(1) sets the ten-year term. You can renew on Form TM-R up to one year before expiry, and even a missed renewal can be saved within the grace period, so the brand stays yours as long as you keep it alive.
What is the government fee for a class 33 trademark?
The government fee on Form TM-A is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for others. Paper filing costs ₹5,000 and ₹10,000 respectively, so online filing is the cheaper route. Each extra class you add is charged at the same rate. Our professional fee is quoted separately before you commit, so you know the full cost before we start.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The government fee on Form TM-A is ₹4,500 per class for individuals, startups and small enterprises filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for everyone else. Paper filing costs more (₹5,000 and ₹10,000). We file online.
Ready to begin?
Send us your brand name and product list, and we will check class 33 and class 32 before you print labels.