1. An apparatus comprising a bottle-labeling machine for applying a label to a peripheral surface of a container that is arranged for movement in a transport plane and about an axis of rotation, wherein said bottle labeling machine comprises a labeling machine, wherein said labeling machine comprises a label-transfer element, a sensor system, a position-detection element, and a control-and-evaluation unit, wherein said sensor system comprises a sensor unit, wherein said sensor unit is directed toward said label-transfer element, wherein said sensor unit is directed toward said position-detection element, wherein said position-detection element is detectable by said sensor unit, wherein said position-detection element is disposed on said label-transfer element, wherein said control-and-evaluation unit is operatively connected to said sensor unit, and wherein said control-and-evaluation unit is configured to detect, based on a detected position of said position-detection element, an actual position of said label-transfer element relative to said peripheral surface of said container in a three-dimensional detection space, wherein said sensor unit comprises an electronic ruler that is configured to detect a position of a label on a container.