NA Draft Service Operations Standard
The operational standard for safely connecting, identifying, verifying, and serving non-alcoholic beverages on draft — including mandatory NFC-enabled Coupler Tags and the DraftVerify Identification Pathway as defined in the DraftVerify Standard v1.0.
Why NA Draft Requires a Modern, Verified Service Standard
NA draft lives in a unique space: it shares the same storage rooms, towers, and service environments as alcoholic beer, but its audience expects absolute certainty. A single misconnection at the coupler or an unseen routing mistake inside a walk-in cooler can result in a guest being served alcohol when they explicitly chose not to consume it.
Traditional labels and handwritten markers were never designed to solve that problem. Modern NA service needs a system that removes assumption, creates instant clarity, and gives staff a way to **confirm** what they’re about to connect. That foundation is the heart of this standard — and the reason the DraftVerify Identification Pathway became necessary.
Where Mistakes Actually Happen
The industry has always known the weak spots: kegs stored together in shared coolers, lines being repurposed between alcoholic and non-alcoholic products, or staff making a quick connection during a busy service rush. None of these situations are the fault of the operator — they’re a result of draft systems being built decades before NA became a daily expectation.
The risk has never been the keg itself. It’s the connection point. The coupler is where identity can be lost, where a mix-up is most likely, and where verification matters most. That’s why this standard places the greatest emphasis on Coupler Tag control.
Every compliant NA draft system begins at the connection point — and every safe connection begins with the Coupler Tag.
Why Verification Must Start at the Keg
The Coupler Tag is the anchor of the entire DraftVerify system. It is an NFC-enabled, cryptographically unique identifier assigned to each NA keg before it enters distribution. When staff scan the tag, they are not relying on guesswork — they are confirming the exact keg, the exact style, and the exact product identity intended for that line.
And because the Coupler Tag cannot be duplicated or reassigned without detection, it creates the kind of certainty the industry has never had before. Every decision downstream — line routing, faucet identity, daily checks — is built on that single moment of confirmation.
Without Coupler Tag verification, the rest of the system cannot function. This is why the use of NFC-enabled DraftVerify Coupler Tags is considered mandatory under this standard.
Creating One Language from Keg to Faucet
The moment a keg is verified at connection, that identity must follow the beer all the way to the glass. Historically, draft systems relied on a patchwork of stickers, tape, and memory. NA draft cannot rely on any of those.
The DraftVerify Identification Pathway solves that by creating a single visual and digital language across:
Keg Tag
The keg-level identity that confirms the product is truly NA.
Coupler Tag (NFC)
The digital anchor and mandatory point of verification.
Line Marker
A clear, durable identity applied along the chosen route.
Faucet Sticker
Point-of-pour confirmation for staff and guests alike.
This pathway turns a complicated system into a readable one. Every piece says the same thing, and every message is anchored back to the verified keg.
Quick, Confident Checks — Even on the Busiest Nights
Verification isn’t meant to slow staff down. It’s meant to give them confidence. In practice, the NFC scan takes less than a second — and it removes every assumption that used to surround NA connections.
Most operators follow a simple rhythm:
- Scan the Coupler Tag before attaching the coupler.
- Trace the Line Marker to the tower.
- Confirm the Faucet Sticker identity.
- Perform a quick test pour if appropriate.
- Start service knowing the tap is verified.
The process is fast, consistent, and repeatable across shifts — exactly what NA draft has always needed.
A Clear Response for Unclear Situations
Even with a strong system, operators occasionally encounter uncertainty — a mislabeled keg, a missing line marker, or a question from staff about whether a tap is truly NA.
Under this standard, the rule is straightforward: If you are not certain, treat the tap as alcoholic until verified.
A quick NFC scan brings clarity instantly. If something doesn’t match the Registry, service pauses until the issue is corrected. The goal is simple: zero doubt, zero risk.
What It Means to Meet This Standard
This operational standard is built around the tools required to make NA draft safe, verifiable, and consistent. At the time of publication, the only system capable of delivering that complete pathway — from Coupler Tag to Faucet Sticker — is DraftVerify.
As the category grows and more venues adopt NA draft, this verification-first approach provides the reliability and clarity needed to meet guest expectations everywhere NA beverages are served.