Digital Solutions for Beer & Cider
The GS1 Digital Link QR code programme is transforming barcodes on products globally. This is a powerful opportunity for breweries and cider makers to standardise how they inform and connect with customers — from ingredients and allergens to competitions and repurchasing.
Key Features
Connected Packaging Features for Beer & Cider
Everything You Need, Built In — Discover how SmartLinks™ technology enhances every aspect of your products
Ingredients & Allergen Information
Provide comprehensive ingredient lists, allergen declarations, and nutritional information digitally — meeting evolving regulatory requirements without cluttering your label.
Brewery Revenue & Drinker Engagement Solutions
Turn Every Can Into a Customer Touchpoint
Your products don't stop generating value at checkout. Every scan is an opportunity to engage, educate, and build lasting brand loyalty with beer and cider drinkers worldwide.
Drive Repeat Purchases
Enable consumers to reorder their favourite brews directly from the can. Bypass traditional retail channels and build direct-to-consumer relationships from every scan.
Capture First-Party Data
Build detailed customer profiles from engagement patterns and preferences. Know your drinkers by name, taste, and region — even when sold through off-licences and supermarkets.
Run Competitions & Rewards
Launch prize draws, loyalty rewards, and gamified experiences triggered by product scans. Turn casual drinkers into brand advocates through interactive engagement.
Tell Your Brewery Story
Share your brewing heritage, process, and people. Connect consumers emotionally with the craft behind every can — from hop selection to fermentation.
How It Works
From Can to Customer in Three Steps
Go live in under an hour — no complex integration required
Apply SmartLinks to Products
Embed GS1 Digital Link QR codes on cans, bottles, or packaging during production. Each code links to a unique digital product experience.
GS1 Digital Link
QR Codes That Work at Three Levels
SmartLinks GS1 Digital Link QR codes operate at GTIN, batch, and serial number levels — giving breweries granular control over every product interaction.
GTIN Level
Connects to product information by product type, enabling basic product lookup, stock management, and point-of-sale scanning.
Legislation
Navigating Beer & Cider Legislation
On-pack legislation is evolving rapidly — from health warnings and allergen declarations to deposit return schemes. Breweries that adopt a dynamic digital platform now will be ready for every change.
Dynamic Content Updates
Update product information, health warnings, and compliance data in real time without changing your packaging.
- Adapt to new health warning requirements instantly
- Update allergen information as regulations change
- Implement deposit return scheme information by region
Evolving Regulatory Landscape
Lawmakers across the UK and EU are increasingly looking to QR codes as the solution for mandatory product information.
- UK Alcohol Duty reforms and labelling requirements
- EU FIC regulation for ingredient and nutritional labelling
- Ireland and Scotland deposit return scheme compliance
Why Act Now?
Breweries and cider makers that implement GS1 Digital Link QR codes today gain a dynamic platform that adapts to any future regulation — without costly reprints. One code on your packaging serves compliance, supply chain, and marketing needs simultaneously, future-proofing your products for whatever legislation comes next.
SmartLinks Hub
Your Post-Purchase Taproom in a Can Platform
You brew great beer — but the relationship ends at the off-licence shelf. The Hub turns every can and bottle into a direct channel for reorders, brewery events, and drinker loyalty.
One-Tap Reorders
Let drinkers reorder their favourite brew directly from the can — building a direct-to-consumer channel from every scan.
AI Beer Guide
Instant answers on ingredients, allergens, tasting notes, and food pairings — trained on your brewing data.
Competitions & Loyalty
Run prize draws, reward scans, and build drinker loyalty programmes — all triggered from the product itself.
Compliance + Commerce
Allergen declarations, deposit return info, and regulatory data alongside promotions — one platform, not a patchwork.
Industry Use Cases
Who Uses SmartLinks for Beer & Cider
Craft Breweries
Share your unique brewing story, tasting notes, and food pairings. Connect small-batch drinkers directly to your taproom and online shop.
Cider Makers
Highlight orchard origins, apple varieties, and seasonal releases. Link to farm visits, cider trails, and subscription services.
Multinational Brewers
Standardise digital labelling across markets with multi-language support, regional compliance, and centralised content management at scale.
Contract Brewers
Manage multiple brands and white-label products with templated digital experiences that maintain brand identity for each client.
Brewery Retailers
Add SmartLinks across your own-brand range to unify the post-purchase experience and drive repeat purchases from your brewery shop.
Export & Distribution
Serve market-specific regulatory information automatically by geolocation. One QR code, multiple markets, always compliant.
KeepTag™ Smart Labels for Beer & Cider
KeepTags for Your Products
Give your customers a permanent digital home for all their product information.
Nutritional Information
Full nutritional declaration accessible digitally, meeting UK and EU compliance requirements.
Ingredient Listing
Complete ingredients with processing aids and additives, clearly displayed for every product.
Allergen Declarations
Clear allergen information accessible without data collection barriers — compliant and consumer-friendly.
Brewing Process
Share your brewing methodology, fermentation details, and quality standards with curious drinkers.
Tasting Notes
Expert tasting notes, flavour profiles, and food pairing recommendations for every brew.
Recycling & Deposit
Deposit return scheme information, recycling instructions, and sustainability credentials.
Transform Your Beer & Cider Labels
Meet regulatory requirements while creating unforgettable digital experiences for drinkers. SmartLinks QR codes turn every can and bottle into a gateway to your brand.