republic-os/legal/us/code/title-18/chapter-59/section-1263.md

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LegalText	18 U.S.C. § 1263	Marks and labels on packages	us	united_states_code	code_section	18	CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE	59	LIQUOR TRAFFIC	1263	18 U.S.C. § 1263	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t18/s1263	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml	52129c449b2069f9db88a8feff768523f07eac0d2ae4db67a7515decdf058705	1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708	3b14603c5eae8dbe50764cbdcf7f213c894ea2fdf39a0384c7cd98a99e9fb747	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

18 U.S.C. § 1263 - Marks and labels on packages

Text

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. 645, 62 Stat. 761; Pub. L. 90–518, § 1, Sept. 26, 1968, 82 Stat. 872; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

Notes

Historical and Revision NotesBased on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 390 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 240, 35 Stat. 1137; June 25, 1936, ch. 815, § 8, 49 Stat. 1930.) Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. References to Territory, District, etc., were revised and same changes made as in section 1264 of this title. The provision that “such liquor shall be forfeited to the United States” was omitted as covered by section 3615 of this title, which was derived from section 224 of title 27, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Intoxicating Liquors. The 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 section 3615 of this title, 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. Section 224 of title 27, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Intoxicating Liquors, on which said section 3615 of this title is based, was derived from the Liquor Enforcement Act of 1936 (Act June 25, 1936, ch. 815, 49 Stat. 1928). Said section 224 included, in its coverage, section 390 of title 18, 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 section 3615 of this title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”. 1968—Pub. L. 90–518 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 AmendmentPub. L. 90–518, § 3, Sept. 26, 1968, 82 Stat. 872, provided that: “This Act [amending this section] shall become effective ninety days after the date of its enactment [Sept. 26, 1968].”

Congressional Disclaimer of Intent To Preempt State Regulation of Shipments of Intoxicating LiquorPub. L. 90–518, § 2, Sept. 26, 1968, 82 Stat. 872, provided that: “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.”