DraftVerify Standard v2.0

Non-Alcoholic Draft Identity, Verification & Conformity Requirements

Version 2.0 · Publication Date: 2026-09-22 · Status: Published / Effective
Document ID: DV-F-01-v2.0 · Supersedes: v1.0
© 2026 DraftVerify™ Standards Initiative. All rights reserved.

Document control. This is the controlling normative document for the DraftVerify F-Series. Requirements expressed using shall are mandatory where applicable to a claim of DraftVerify conformity. Should indicates a recommendation; may permission; can capability or possibility. DraftVerify is a private, voluntary standard and certification program. It is not legislation, government approval, or regulatory accreditation.

1. Purpose

DraftVerify establishes a controlled identity and verification framework for non-alcoholic draft beverage systems.

The Standard is intended to:

• establish persistent product identity from keg → coupler → line → faucet;
• require verification before an NA keg is placed into service;
• maintain traceable records of identity, configuration, change, and verification;
• define role-specific controls for breweries, distributors, venues, technicians, and multi-site operators;
• provide objective requirements against which conformity can be assessed; and
• govern eligibility for DraftVerify Certification and authorized use of DraftVerify certification marks.

2. Scope

This Standard applies to organizations that voluntarily implement, contract for, or seek certification to DraftVerify requirements.

It addresses:

1. physical identification;
2. digital identity and serialization;
3. verification events;
4. registry records;
5. system configuration and controlled change;
6. training and competence;
7. incident and discrepancy response;
8. conformity assessment;
9. certification status and mark licensing; and
10. governance and revision control.

Applicable law, regulation, code, manufacturer instructions, food-safety requirements, occupational-safety requirements, and qualified engineering requirements remain external obligations and take precedence where they conflict with this Standard.

3. Normative language

For the purposes of the DraftVerify F-Series:

• shall / shall not — requirement;
• should / should not — recommendation;
• may / need not — permission;
• can / cannot — possibility or capability.

A party shall satisfy every applicable shall requirement within its certification scope unless the requirement is expressly designated not applicable by an authorized DraftVerify conformity decision.

4. Core conformity principles

4.1 Persistent identity

Each NA draft pathway shall have an identity that remains distinguishable from alcoholic draft pathways throughout the defined system.

4.2 Verification before connection

The identity of an NA keg and its intended connection point shall be verified before the keg is placed into service.

4.3 Physical and digital evidence

Where the applicable implementation profile requires both physical and digital controls, neither control shall be treated as a substitute for the other.

4.4 Controlled configuration

Changes to product assignment, line mapping, identifiers, equipment configuration, or certificate scope shall be documented and verified before normal service resumes.

4.5 Traceability

Records necessary to reconstruct a material identity or configuration event shall be retained in accordance with the applicable F-Series requirement.

4.6 Stop-service principle

A critical identity mismatch, unresolved alcohol/NA pathway uncertainty, falsified record, or other critical failure defined by the applicable conformity rules shall place the affected pathway in an unverified state until corrective action and re-verification are complete.

5. Physical identity requirements

Physical requirements are specified in:

• F-6 Keg Identification;
• F-7 Coupler Tag Standard;
• F-8 Line Identification;
• F-9 Faucet Identification; and
• F-10 Visual Lexicon.

At minimum, an implementation within DraftVerify certification scope shall provide:

1. visible NA identity at the keg;
2. a controlled identifier at or associated with the keg connection point;
3. a traceable line identity; and
4. point-of-service identification where required by the applicable profile.

6. Digital identity and registry requirements

Digital requirements are specified in F-12, F-13, and F-28 through F-31.

Where digital verification is within scope:

• each serialized identifier shall resolve to a controlled registry record;
• identity state changes shall be attributable and time-stamped;
• verification events shall be recorded in accordance with F-30;
• retired identifiers shall not be returned to active service except through a documented v2.0 rule expressly permitting it; and
• records used as certification evidence shall be protected against unauthorized alteration.

7. Organizational responsibilities

7.1 Breweries

A participating brewery shall control product identity, serialization, activation, applicable records, and release of DraftVerify-identified kegs.

7.2 Distributors

A participating distributor shall preserve identifier integrity, document applicable custody and discrepancy events, and avoid altering identity mappings without authorization.

7.3 Venues

A participating venue shall maintain the defined NA pathway, verify applicable keg connections, maintain required records, and initiate incident controls when identity cannot be confirmed.

7.4 Technicians and service personnel

Personnel modifying an in-scope system shall follow applicable change-control, safety, and documentation requirements.

8. Conformity assessment

Conformity assessment under DraftVerify is governed by:

• F-32 Certification & Mark Licensing Policy;
• F-33 Conformity Assessment & Audit Rules;
• F-37 Auditor Handbook; and
• F-38 Personnel Competence & Training Requirements.

Assessment shall distinguish:

• critical requirements that cannot be offset by scoring;
• major and minor nonconformities;
• corrective action;
• certification decision; and
• surveillance or renewal.

9. DraftVerify Certification

DraftVerify Certification is a private, voluntary conformity designation issued only through the DraftVerify Certification Program.

A party shall not represent itself, a site, a product, a service, a draft pathway, or equipment as DraftVerify Certified, DraftVerify Approved, DraftVerify Verified, or equivalent wording implying a DraftVerify conformity decision unless:

1. DraftVerify has issued that status in writing;
2. the applicable certificate or authorization is active;
3. the claim is within the stated scope; and
4. use of the applicable DraftVerify mark is authorized under F-32.

Certification does not constitute government approval, regulatory approval, product-safety approval, or accredited certification unless DraftVerify expressly states otherwise for a specific program.

10. Certificate validity and registry control

A DraftVerify certificate shall include, at minimum:

• unique certificate identifier;
• certified legal or operating entity;
• site or program scope;
• applicable Standard version;
• issue date;
• expiry or review date where applicable; and
• status.

The DraftVerify Registry is the controlling record of certificate status. A copied certificate, image, badge, or printed document does not establish active status if the Registry shows suspended, withdrawn, expired, or otherwise inactive status.

11. Claims, marks, and protected materials

DraftVerify publications, diagrams, forms, training works, software, registry interfaces, graphics, and other original works may be protected by copyright.

Copyright does not create ownership of abstract ideas, facts, methods, or systems as such. Accordingly, DraftVerify does not rely on copyright to prohibit independent creation of a different NA draft standard.

DraftVerify names, logos, certification marks, badges, certificate designs, and other source or conformity identifiers are separately controlled.

Public availability of this Standard:

• permits reading, evaluation, linking, and factual reference;
• does not grant a certification licence;
• does not grant authorization to use a DraftVerify certification mark;
• does not grant authorization to reproduce or commercially redistribute substantial protected expression except as permitted by law; and
• does not authorize a third party to imply endorsement, affiliation, certification, or approval.

Commercial reproduction, adaptation, translation, inclusion in paid training, incorporation of protected DraftVerify material into another commercial standards product, or licensed use of DraftVerify marks requires written permission except where applicable law provides otherwise.

12. Governance and precedence

F-40 governs revision, publication, interpretation, and document control.

If two F-Series documents conflict:

1. applicable law and external mandatory requirements prevail over DraftVerify;
2. F-1 controls within the DraftVerify F-Series unless a later F-Series document expressly identifies a more specific controlling provision;
3. the later effective version controls over a superseded version; and
4. the canonical publication maintained by DraftVerify controls over unofficial copies.

13. Version 2.0 transition

Version 2.0 supersedes DraftVerify Standard v1.0 for new certification decisions issued on or after the v2.0 effective date.

Existing contractual implementations, if any, may be transitioned under written terms established by DraftVerify.