The U.S. regulations about the labelling of beer products were
     antiquated, but they are changing rapidly. When Prohibition ended, a
     statute was enacted that prohibited the alcohol content from
     appearing on beer labels unless required by state law. Nor could they
     use words like "strong", "full strength", or "high proof". Coors
     recently challenged this law in court and has won their lower court
     battles. It is now pending a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
     However, some states have regulations that require certain beers to
     be labelled using other terms that are supposed denote strength
     without violating the above statute. Consequently some beers are
     labeled ales, even if they are lagers, due simply to their strength.
     Texas is one example of this usage. Similarly, "malt liquor" is the
     appellation attached to strong beers in other states, such as
     Georgia. Barley wines are strong beers, typically at strengths
     comparable to wines (8% alcohol by volume and over). However, this is
     not just an arbitrary term for strength but the actual name of the
     beer style as well.

     In April 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Coors' favor regarding
     the placement of alcohol percentages on beer labels. Some of Coors'
     beer labels now include this figure and other brewers are following
     suit.