Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 1263

Marks and labels on packages

Whoever knowingly ships into any place within the United States any package containing any spirituous, vinous, malted, or other fermented liquor, or any compound containing any spirituous, vinous, malted, or other fermented liquor fit for use for beverage purposes, unless such shipment is accompanied by copy of a bill of lading, or other document showing the name of the consignee, the nature of its contents, and the quantity contained therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

June 25, 1948, ch. 64562 Stat. 761Pub. L. 90–518, § 182 Stat. 872Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H)108 Stat. 2147(, ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 24035 Stat. 1137June 25, 1936, ch. 815, § 849 Stat. 1930Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 390 (, ; , .)

section 2 of this titleReference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in .

section 1264 of this titleReferences to Territory, District, etc., were revised and same changes made as in .

section 3615 of this titlesection 224 of title 27The provision that “such liquor shall be forfeited to the United States” was omitted as covered by , which was derived from , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Intoxicating Liquors.

section 3615 of this titleSection 224 of title 27section 3615 of this titleAct June 25, 1936, ch. 81549 Stat. 1928section 390 of title 18section 3615 of this titleThe provision that such liquor “may be seized and condemned by like proceedings as those provided by law for the seizure and forfeiture of property imported into the United States contrary to law” was likewise omitted as covered by , which provides for seizure and forfeiture under the internal revenue laws rather than under provisions of law “for the seizure and forfeiture of property imported into the United States contrary to law” or, in other words, rather than under the customs laws. , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Intoxicating Liquors, on which said is based, was derived from the Liquor Enforcement Act of 1936 (, ). Said section 224 included, in its coverage, , U.S.C., 1940 ed., on which this revised section is based, even though the Liquor Enforcement Act of 1936, in another section thereof, in amending said section 390, retained the provision that seizures and forfeitures thereunder should be under the customs laws. By eliminating this conflicting provision, a uniform procedure for seizures and forfeitures, under the internal revenue laws, is established under said .

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–3221994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.

Pub. L. 90–5181968— struck out “of or package” after “any package” and substituted “shipment is accompanied by copy of a bill of lading, or other document showing” for “package is so labeled on the outside cover as to plainly show”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–518, § 382 Stat. 872

“This Act [amending this section] shall become effective ninety days after the date of its enactment [].”
, , , provided that:

Congressional Disclaimer of Intent To Preempt State Regulation of Shipments of Intoxicating Liquor

Pub. L. 90–518, § 282 Stat. 872

“Nothing contained in this Act [amending this section] shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to deprive any State of the power to enact additional prohibitions with respect to the shipment of intoxicating liquors.”
, , , provided that: