Raising the Bar
You deserve to know what’s in your alcohol.
Our mission is to redefine the industry standard and raise the bar for ingredient transparency and integrity in alcohol. Every ingredient considered. Every additive disclosed. Every label held accountable.
Transparency isn’t a trend. It’s a promise.
No compromises. Just alcohol, done right.
Who We Are
The Clean Alcohol Collective is a standards‑driven certification organization with a clear mission: to raise the bar for transparency in alcohol by defining what brands should disclose and driving meaningful change in how alcoholic beverages are formulated.
While most consumer industries have moved toward greater ingredient transparency and education, alcohol has fallen behind, benefiting from minimal disclosure requirements. The Clean Alcohol Collective is working to change that by establishing clear standards, educating consumers, and holding brands accountable to more modern expectations.
Requirements & Standards
Ingredient Transparency
Nutrition facts panel required
All ingredients clearly listed on packaging
Full disclosure of all non-flavor ingredients
No hidden additives or vague “natural flavors"
Formulation Must-Haves
Real beer, wine, or spirits only
90%+ organic ingredients
Bonus points for organic certification
The No List
No malt liquor.
No artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives.
No fillers, stabilizers, or masking agents.
Why This Matters
The beauty and personal care industry has standards. Groceries have guidelines. So why is the bar still on the floor for alcohol?
Modern consumers scrutinize ingredients in nearly every aisle. From skincare to snacks. Terms like “clean,” “organic,” “all-natural,” and “non-toxic” aren’t just buzzwords, they’re baseline expectations. Yet alcohol remains one of the only categories where ingredient transparency is virtually nonexistent.
The Clean Alcohol Collective believes drinkers deserve the same clarity they expect from food or skincare. We spotlight brands that use better ingredients and share exactly what’s in every beverage, helping you drink with confidence and intention.
What’s in it for Brands
Be a category leader as consumer expectations evolve
Build trust through clear, honest labeling
Gain credibility with CAC-approved standards
Join a like-minded network of founders, retailers, and advocates
Future-proof your brand as regulations and consumer demands shift
Friends of the Collective
Founded by ex-beauty operators who refused to lower their standards when they entered the alcohol industry.
Founding Member
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Meredith is a consumer brand builder, entrepreneur, and investor focused on brands with a "better for you" focus and more sustainable environmental impact.
Meredith is founder of MMG consulting, a global consulting business focused on the development of spirits, beauty, and other consumer goods. She is also the founder and CEO of The Original Southside, driving all business operations and the development of new ready-to-drink products.
Founding Member
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Conor Begley is the co-founder of Fathers, a Clean Beer brand built around organic ingredients, ultra-fine filtration, transparency and a commitment to beer you can feel great about drinking.
A longtime entrepreneur, he previously co-founded Tribe Dynamics, one of the leading influencer marketing platforms, which was acquired for $70M by CreatorIQ.
Advisor
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Ruchi is a proven zero-to-one founder. Most recently she built EIGHT, a better-for-you light lager brand she co-founded with NFL Hall of Famer, Troy Aikman, from an idea into a $3 million brand within one year in one of the most competitive segments in the most competitive market in beer.
Ruchi now works with a number of early-stage brands and runs Rising Tide Ventures, an early-stage, consumer-focused fund that team is dedicated to mentoring its founders and connecting them to the resources they need to find success.
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Clean Alcohol Collective Approved Brands
Apply to Join
If this sounds like you, we’d love to connect.
The Clean Alcohol Collective is built on transparency, integrity, and progress. Applications will be reviewed monthly, with new CAC cohorts announced quarterly, allowing us to thoughtfully evaluate each submission and build a group that leads the industry forward.