August 8, 2007
Nutrition Labels on Alcoholic Beverage Packaging
By Tom Ryan
The Treasury Department has proposed requiring alcoholic beverage packaging to include not only the serving size and alcohol by volume, but also the servings per container and some of the macronutrients found on food packages: calories, carbohydrates, fat and protein.
Currently, labels on liquor and wine with more than 14 percent alcohol by volume must disclose at least the alcohol content, but that information is not required on beer labels, except in some states. If a beer is labeled "light" beer, the caloric content and the percent of alcohol per volume must be included.
Guy Smith, executive vice president at Diageo PLC, which sells brands including Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo and Guinness, called the proposal "a giant and very positive step in the right direction" for the alcohol industry.
"Overwhelmingly people want this kind of information on the package," Smith told The Associated Press.
But The Brewers Association, a trade association for craft brewers, claimed the proposed rule would be very costly for its members and could put some out of business.
"We proposed that the rule be optional," Paul Gatza, director of the association, told TheNew York Times, although he added, "I think the facts panel will show that beer is part of a healthy balanced diet in moderation."
Indeed, a thornier issue for some groups is that having nutritional information might encourage drinking.
George Hacker, director of the alcohol policies project for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, believes the listing of macronutrients may suggest "there is some nutritional quality to these beverages."
The group argued against adding nutrition information, but still petitioned for more information on alcoholic beverages overall. Said Mr. Hacker, "We think it’s a step forward toward providing consumers information that will help them measure their alcohol consumption."
Duncan Holaday, founder and president of Vermont Spirits, said having nutritional information on labels seems at odds with other labels on beverages warning about the hazards of alcohol to unborn children and the impairment it may cause when driving or using machinery as well as potential health problems.
"Nutrition information implies there is something of value for your body," he said, "and there is a contradiction because on the other hand it can be harmful to your health."
Discussion Questions: Of all the proposed additions (alcoholic content, serving sizes, nutritional information), which do you think should be included on alcoholic beverage labels? Do you think having nutritional information on alcoholic beverage labels is a good or bad idea?
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I am not sure what value nutritional information on alcoholic beverages will provide to the prospective drinkers! Common sense dictates that alcoholic beverages are not healthy, no matter what various research studies may say. On one hand we have health hazard warning signs on alcoholic beverages and on the other hand we want to put nutritional values! And we expect an average drinker to make an informed decision. Aren’t we confusing the poor consumers?!
Every consumable packaged product should have a nutritional label regardless of whether the product is considered healthy or not. I also think ingredients should be listed. People should have the right to know exactly what is in the products they consume. Costs to the manufacturers, while understandably high, are irrelevant. Every other consumer product has had to add nutritional labels and bear the costs at some point in history.
Labels with calorie count and carb count per bottle/can seems reasonable and useful. Anything beyond that seems ridiculous. What people REALLY want to know is if it came from China!
I agree with nutritional content labeling. First of all, the idea that all consumers will be ‘confused’ by the warning labels and the nutrition panel is grossly underestimating common sense and the intelligence of consumers. People who drink alcohol sensibly understand that drinking in excess is bad for you. If you drink in excess, you have a problem and it won’t matter what is on the bottle.
Secondly, it has been proven that a glass of red wine or a beer can have healthy nutrients. If we continue to demonize alcohol, without promoting any of the benefits, we dilute the message that it can be part of a healthy diet while enforcing that its only purpose is to ‘get drunk’.
Let’s look at the benefits of a nutrition panel instead. First of all, it will reinforce the appropriate serving size. We are far too accustomed to excess servings of alcohol at bars, restaurants, etc. (some glasses of wine can be up to 3 times a serving!). Having it right there on the bottle can help people who are having a drink at home get used to the measurements which will help them police themselves.
From a diet perspective, knowing the caloric content may actually dissuade some people from having a second glass.
People who abuse alcohol will continue to abuse it until they get help. Kids will always experiment and it’s up to the parents to regulate that (in which case, the nutritional panel can help explain serving size.)
I believe that this is definitely a step in the right direction. I find it hard to believe that folks will see the label as advocating the nutritional value of alcohol beverages. We have Nutrition Facts panels on candy bars but you don’t see people rushing to consume them for their nutritional value. It does, however, allow folks to be aware of how many calories and carbs they are ingesting. Very helpful for those who are counting.
The cost to analyze a formulation is very reasonable. Most labs charge less than $100 for this analysis. Small food producers put this information on their labels; why not alcohol?
Diabetics need information about carbohydrate content to control their disease. Carbs are required on every product EXCEPT alcohol beverages. This is a safety issue. I’m diabetic and like to have a beer or a glass of wine now and then. It is important to me to choose a beverage with fewer carbs so my sugar doesn’t go through the roof.
Regardless of your opinion, either for or against, everyone should participate in the comment process for this proposed rule. To comment on the rule and be apart of the rule making go to http://www.regulations.gov. Let the Treasury Department know where you stand.
Nutrition labeling on alcoholic beverages puts a new perspective on the liquid lunch. Two martini’s or three? Then, there’s the olive to consider….
It’s going to require some research with my focus group, so I’ll get back to you..*.*.hic*.
Wow, the CSPI objects to something…now THERE’S a dog bites man story if I ever saw one.
Back on topic, there certainly is a point to having the alcoholic content listed–though for years it was prohibited on beer (a splendid example of the addled and inconsistent thinking that guides many of our alcoholic beverage laws) and perhaps calories as well; but I can’t see a purpose beyond that.
Considering the way the public reads labels now, looking at the content of what they are going to buy, why not? Bacardi already has commercials out stating “Bacardi and Diet Coke–Zero Carbs.”
In the article it states that nutrition information implies there is something of value for your body. I would say most people think there is little nutritional value in liquor.
It is funny that the group that is against the labels are micro brewers. Their beers are very heavy on the caloric side, whereas the liquor distributors do not have a problem with it.
McDonald’s has nutrition labels yet they still sell millions of hamburgers.
When drinking alcohol, you know what you are putting into your body.
Anyone who says that nutrition labeling isn’t affordable has no credibility. Customers should always be informed about what they’re eating and drinking. For some folks, the facts will influence their consumption patterns. Some folks won’t care, but at least they’ll have the opportunity to make an informed decision. Allergies to additives, calories, sugar and alcohol content, etc. are certainly important to millions of people, and those numbers will increase when folks see the facts presented right on the bottles.
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I am not sure what value nutritional information on alcoholic beverages will provide to the prospective drinkers! Common sense dictates that alcoholic beverages are not healthy, no matter what various research studies may say. On one hand we have health hazard warning signs on alcoholic beverages and on the other hand we want to put nutritional values! And we expect an average drinker to make an informed decision. Aren’t we confusing the poor consumers?!
Every consumable packaged product should have a nutritional label regardless of whether the product is considered healthy or not. I also think ingredients should be listed. People should have the right to know exactly what is in the products they consume. Costs to the manufacturers, while understandably high, are irrelevant. Every other consumer product has had to add nutritional labels and bear the costs at some point in history.
Labels with calorie count and carb count per bottle/can seems reasonable and useful. Anything beyond that seems ridiculous. What people REALLY want to know is if it came from China!
I agree with nutritional content labeling. First of all, the idea that all consumers will be ‘confused’ by the warning labels and the nutrition panel is grossly underestimating common sense and the intelligence of consumers. People who drink alcohol sensibly understand that drinking in excess is bad for you. If you drink in excess, you have a problem and it won’t matter what is on the bottle.
Secondly, it has been proven that a glass of red wine or a beer can have healthy nutrients. If we continue to demonize alcohol, without promoting any of the benefits, we dilute the message that it can be part of a healthy diet while enforcing that its only purpose is to ‘get drunk’.
Let’s look at the benefits of a nutrition panel instead. First of all, it will reinforce the appropriate serving size. We are far too accustomed to excess servings of alcohol at bars, restaurants, etc. (some glasses of wine can be up to 3 times a serving!). Having it right there on the bottle can help people who are having a drink at home get used to the measurements which will help them police themselves.
From a diet perspective, knowing the caloric content may actually dissuade some people from having a second glass.
People who abuse alcohol will continue to abuse it until they get help. Kids will always experiment and it’s up to the parents to regulate that (in which case, the nutritional panel can help explain serving size.)
I believe that this is definitely a step in the right direction. I find it hard to believe that folks will see the label as advocating the nutritional value of alcohol beverages. We have Nutrition Facts panels on candy bars but you don’t see people rushing to consume them for their nutritional value. It does, however, allow folks to be aware of how many calories and carbs they are ingesting. Very helpful for those who are counting.
The cost to analyze a formulation is very reasonable. Most labs charge less than $100 for this analysis. Small food producers put this information on their labels; why not alcohol?
Diabetics need information about carbohydrate content to control their disease. Carbs are required on every product EXCEPT alcohol beverages. This is a safety issue. I’m diabetic and like to have a beer or a glass of wine now and then. It is important to me to choose a beverage with fewer carbs so my sugar doesn’t go through the roof.
Regardless of your opinion, either for or against, everyone should participate in the comment process for this proposed rule. To comment on the rule and be apart of the rule making go to http://www.regulations.gov. Let the Treasury Department know where you stand.
Nutrition labeling on alcoholic beverages puts a new perspective on the liquid lunch. Two martini’s or three? Then, there’s the olive to consider….
It’s going to require some research with my focus group, so I’ll get back to you..*.*.hic*.
Wow, the CSPI objects to something…now THERE’S a dog bites man story if I ever saw one.
Back on topic, there certainly is a point to having the alcoholic content listed–though for years it was prohibited on beer (a splendid example of the addled and inconsistent thinking that guides many of our alcoholic beverage laws) and perhaps calories as well; but I can’t see a purpose beyond that.
Considering the way the public reads labels now, looking at the content of what they are going to buy, why not? Bacardi already has commercials out stating “Bacardi and Diet Coke–Zero Carbs.”
In the article it states that nutrition information implies there is something of value for your body. I would say most people think there is little nutritional value in liquor.
It is funny that the group that is against the labels are micro brewers. Their beers are very heavy on the caloric side, whereas the liquor distributors do not have a problem with it.
McDonald’s has nutrition labels yet they still sell millions of hamburgers.
When drinking alcohol, you know what you are putting into your body.
Anyone who says that nutrition labeling isn’t affordable has no credibility. Customers should always be informed about what they’re eating and drinking. For some folks, the facts will influence their consumption patterns. Some folks won’t care, but at least they’ll have the opportunity to make an informed decision. Allergies to additives, calories, sugar and alcohol content, etc. are certainly important to millions of people, and those numbers will increase when folks see the facts presented right on the bottles.