Originally Posted by greggwiggins

In the U.S. alcohol regulations are set on the state level. That's actually in the U.S. Constitution as part of the 21st Amendment that ended prohibition. Some states do require beers above a certain alcohol content to be called "malt liquor" but there's no single national rule or standard.

With the growth of craft brewing and high octane beers, several states have relaxed or eliminated the naming requirement.