DRAFT KENYA STANDARD  KS 2150 : 202 1 
ICS 67.160.10  
Third  Edition  
 
 © KEBS 2021  
  alcoholic mixed beverage — Specification  
 
 
 APPROVED  
28-01-2021  KS 2150: 202 1 
ii © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
Ministry of Health  
Government Chemist’s Department  
Kenya Wine Agencies Ltd.  
East African Breweries Ltd.  
Keroche Industries Ltd.  
Africa Spirits Ltd.  
Institute of Packaging  
Kenya Spectre International Ltd.  
Agro -Chemical (K) Ltd.  
London Distillers (K) Ltd.  
National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA)  
Consumer Information Network  
Kenya Nut Company Ltd.  
Kenya Revenue Authority  
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS  
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  Suggestions 
for improvements to published standards, addressed to th e Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.  
© Kenya Bureau of Standards  2021 
Copyright. Users are reminded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001 of  the Laws of Kenya, copyright 
subsists in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of 
Standards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in  writing 
from the Managing Direc tor.  DRAFT KENYA STANDARD  KS 2150: 202 1 
ICS 67.160.10  
Third  Edition  
 
© KEBS 202 1 – All rights reserved  iii 
  
alcoholic mixed beverage — Specification  
 
  Kenya Bureau of Standards,  Popo Road, Off Mombasa Road,  
P.O. Box 54974 - 00200,  Nairobi, Kenya  
 +254 020 6948000, + 254 722202137, + 254 734600471  
 info@kebs.org  
 @KEBS_ke  
 kenya bureau of standards ( kebs)  
KS 2150: 202 1 
iv © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
This Kenya Standard has been prepared by the Alcoholic Beverages Technical Committee under the 
guidance of the Standards Projects Committee , and it is in accordance with the procedures of the Kenya 
Bureau of Standards.  
During the prepa ration of this standard, consideration on technical information and data supplied by Kenyan 
stakeholders regarding quality requirements for these products was done. Of essence is the ethyl alcohol limit 
and heavy metals, which is adequately addressed in th is standard.  
This standard therefore covers aspects that ensure that consumer safety is given priority during placement 
into the market.  
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition KS 2150:2008, which has been technically revised.  
During the  preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following document:  
Food , Drugs and Chemical Substances Act, Cap. 254 of the Laws of Kenya.  
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance derived from this source.  
 DRAFT  KENYA STANDARD   KS 2150: 202 1 
 
© KEBS 202 1 – All rights reserved  1 
 Formatted:  Tab stops:   9.5 cm, Right
alcoholic mixed beverage — Specification   
Scope   
This Kenya Standard specifies the requirements and test methods for alcoholic  mixed  beverages . 
2 Normative references  
The following referenced documents referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced docum ent (including any amendments) applies.  
AOAC 940.15, Acids in Cordials and Liqueurs  
AOAC 926.03, Alcohol by Volume in Distilled Liquors  
AOAC 940.17, Carbon Dioxide in Beer  
AOAC 920.51, Sugars (Reducing) in Beer  
AOAC 958.04, Methanol in Distilled Liquors  
AOAC 2015.01, Heavy Metals in Food  
KS EAS 12, Potable water ― specification  
KS EAS 38, Labelling of pre -packaged foods — General r equirements  
KS EAS 39, Hygiene in the food and drink manufacturing industry ― Code of practice  
KS EAS 104, Alcoholic beverages  — Methods of sampling and test  
KS 1499, Code of practice for processing, handling and distribution of alcoholic beverages  
GSFA, Codex General Standard for Food Additives  
KS EAS 35 , Fortified food grade salt - Specification  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following definitions  apply . 
alcoholic  mixed  beverage  
alcoholic beverages derived from blending of potable un denatured spirits , beers, wines as  base with 
natural/nature identical/artificial additives permitted  under G SFA and preserved chemically, carbonation or 
heat treatment .  
4 Requirements  
4.1 Ingredients  
4.1.1  Ethyl alcohol   
2 © KEBS  2021 – All rights reserved  
 Ethyl alcohol content in this product shall be 3 % minimum  (5.25 0 proof) at 20 0/20 0C when determined 
according to the method prescribed in KS EAS 104. The tolerance limits for ethyl alcohol content shall be + 
1.0 % of the declared strength.  
4.1.2  Freedom from harmful ingredients  
The product shall be free from any ingredients injurious to  health and shall be free from sediments or 
suspended matters except for the components incorporated in colloidal suspension and roughage from 
fruit/juice.  
4.1.3  Colours and additives  
The product may contain natural/natural identical/ synthetic permitted f ood colours and additives  as defined by 
GSFA  
4.1.4  Taste and aroma  
The product shall possess the characteristics taste and aroma associated with respective base material  to 
enhance the characteristics flavour of the product, natural/nature identical/artif icial flavours permitted may be 
used.  
4.1.5  preservation  
The product may be carbonated with carbon dioxide (see Table 1).  Other preservation methods may include 
pasteurization, chemical preservatives, nitrogen gas or other suitable methods as prescribed in  Codex 
alimentarius.  
4.1.6  Water  
The water used in the manufac ture of the product shall be po table complying with KS EAS 12.  
4.1.7 Edible salt  
Edible salt if used in the manufacture of the product shall comply with KS EAS  35 
4.2  Specific requirements  
The product shall comply with the specific requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance with the 
test methods prescribed therein.  
Table 1 — Specific requirements for alcoholic mixed beverage s 
S/N Characteristic  Requirement  Test method  
i.  pH  2.00 – 5.00 KS EAS 104  
ii.  Total acidity g/l, as  Citric 
acid 7 max  AOAC 940.15  
Tartaric 
acid 8 max  
iii.  Ethyl alcohol content %, v/v  min 3.00  AOAC 926.03  
iv.  Sugar, %  max.  20 AOAC 920.51  
v.  Methyl alcohol  max.  30 ppm  AOAC 958.04  
 KS 2150: 202 1 
© KEBS 202 1 – All rights reserved  3 
 5 Heavy metal contaminants  
The product shall comply with the heavy metal limits given in Table 2  when tested in accordance with the test 
methods prescribed therein . 
   
4 © KEBS  2021 – All rights reserved  
 Table 2 — Heavy metal limits  for spirit based ready to drink alcoholic beverages  
S/N Characteristic  Limit, max.  Test method  
 Lead (as Pb), ppm 0.01 AOAC 2015.01  
 
6 Hygiene  
The products shall be manufactured in approved and licensed premises built and maintained under hygienic 
conditions stipulated in KS 1499 and KS EAS 39.  
7 Fill of container  
The fill of container shall be in accordance with the Weights and Measures Act, Cap. 513  of the Laws of 
Kenya.  
8 Packaging  
The product shall be packaged in food grade material that does not affect the quality and safety of the 
product.  
9 Labelling  
In addition to the requirements of KS EAS 38, the package shall be legibly and indelibly marked with the 
following information:  
a) name of product;  
b) net contents;  
c) name and physical address of manufacturer or packer, distributor, importer or exporter;  
d) date of manufacture;  
e) expiry date;  
f) storage instructions;  
g) country of origin;  
h) ethyl alcohol content; and  
i) batch or lot number.  
 KS 2150: 202 1   
 
© KEBS 2021– All rights reserved   
  