Undeclared booze has been found in dozens of Victorian-brewed soft drinks and two manufacturers have been shut down for failing to control their alcohol content.
The Department of Health and Human Services analysed 77 samples of locally made fermented soft drinks earlier in 2017, revealing 47 per cent were in breach of alcohol standards.
Alcohol is produced in fermented soft drinks such as kombucha, water kefir and ginger beer during the brewing process but levels must be kept below 0.5 per cent and declared on labels to inform consumers.
"Unknown consumption of alcohol can cause harm to some consumers such as pregnant women and people on certain medications and may mislead others," a department spokesman said.
Since the survey two manufacturers "unable to manage their alcohol content have ceased trading", he added.
Others are now being told to follow DHHS standards and those who can't keep their alcohol content at less than 0.5 per cent are being referred to the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation for licensing.
The commission recently warned retailers to keep watch for possible breaches of liquor licences when selling fermented drinks.
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