NAICS 424810

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System is the federal standard for classifying U.S. business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of economic statistics. Developed under OMB and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS was designed jointly by the ECPC, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s INEGI to enable comparability across North America; the current U.S. vintage is 2022. ¹

Within NAICS, industry 424810 covers establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of beer, ale, porter, and other fermented malt beverages. It sits in Subsector 424 (Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods) and Industry Group 4248 (Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers). ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 424820
• G2X — NAICS 445320

What this NAICS covers

• Merchant wholesale distribution of beer. ²
• Merchant wholesale distribution of ale. ²
• Merchant wholesale distribution of porter. ²
• Merchant wholesale distribution of other fermented malt beverages. ²
• Bottling or canning purchased malt liquors and wholesaling the bottled or canned malt liquors. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	424820	Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers — wholesaling wine, distilled alcoholic beverages, and/or neutral spirits and ethyl alcohol used in blended wines and distilled liquors. 2
NAICS	312120	Breweries — manufacturing beer, ale, lager, malt liquors, and nonalcoholic beer; bottling/canning purchased malt liquors for wholesale falls under 424810. 2
NAICS	445320	Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers — retailing packaged alcoholic beverages (e.g., ale, beer, wine, liquor). 2

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 424810?

  Establishments primarily engaged in merchant wholesale distribution of beer, ale, porter, and other fermented malt beverages. This classification covers wholesale distribution activities, not retailing or manufacturing. ²

• How does NAICS 424810 differ from NAICS 424820?

  424810 is limited to fermented malt beverages such as beer, ale, and porter. 424820 covers the wholesale distribution of wine and distilled alcoholic beverages, as well as neutral spirits and ethyl alcohol used in blending. ²

• Are brewers included in NAICS 424810?

  No. Brewing beer and other malt beverages is classified under NAICS 312120 (Breweries). However, bottling or canning purchased malt liquors for wholesale distribution is classified in 424810. ²

• Which NAICS applies to liquor stores and other retail sales of alcohol?

  Packaged alcoholic beverage retailing is classified under NAICS 445320 (Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers), not 424810. ²

• Is there a stated federal definition of the size standard within NAICS documentation for 424810?

  Not specified by official sources ².

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 424810
• U.S. Census Bureau NAICS page (2022 NAICS Search and system background). ¹
• 2022 NAICS Manual (official industry definitions and cross-references). ²
• Census Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) overview for wholesale trade statistics context. ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS main page and 2022 NAICS Search: https://www.census.gov/naics/?details=424810&input=424810&year=2022
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Manual (official definitions for 424810, 424820, 312120, 445320): https://www.census.gov/naics/reference_files_tools/2022_NAICS_Manual.pdf
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey press release: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html