Will You Say "Cheers" To Nutritional Content Labels on Liquor?

By SheSpeaksTeam Jun 12, 2013

Seeing fat and calorie content prominently displayed on many menus and all of the food products in the grocery store is nothing new, but soon we may be getting this type of information before sipping a cocktail or glass of wine. There is a move in the works for manufacturers to begin adding nutritional labels to alcoholic beverages for all to see before making that purchase in the store.

USA Today reports about the now voluntary addition of nutritional labels on everything from vodka to wine. The Treasury Department, which regulates alcohol, is now giving beer, wine, and spirits producers the option to add more information to their labels like serving size, servings per container, calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat per serving.

It may sound strange but this type of label has never been approved by the Treasury Department until now. Executive distillery vice president Guy Smith explains, “This is actually bringing alcoholic beverages into the modern era.”

Many alcoholic beverage producers are eager to add the labels and show off low calories and low carbohydrate content to consumers. But beer producers may leave labels off their high calories drinks and wine producers may not want to ruin the slick look of their bottles by adding extra room for nutritional content.

Though keeping people better informed of what they’re drinking sounds like a win-win, some feel adding nutritional labels may trick people into thinking they are consuming something healthful. Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, explains how the labels can be misleading. Jacobson says, “Including fat and carbohydrates on a label could imply that an alcoholic beverage is positively healthful, especially when the drink's alcohol content isn't prominently labeled.”

What do you think of the move for alcoholic beverage manufacturers to include nutritional labels?

How do you think this will affect the way we beer, wine and spirits purchases?

Make a Comment

Comments

by JadeGC | METLAKATLA, AK

Jun 24, 2013

THIS IDEA HAS GOOD THOUGHT PUT INTO IT FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER MORE OF HOW MUCH ITS ACTUALLY BENEFITTING THE CONSUMER VERSUS HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING THE PRODUERS. IT CAN BE MADE AN OPTION AND NOT A REQUIREMENT THEN THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO DO SO WILL ATTRACT THE CONSUMERS WHO PUSHED FOR THIS MOVEMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE

by babsywabs | Notre Dame, IN

Jun 13, 2013

Here we go again. Another example of the nanny state trying to save us from ourselves. Those who have a problem with alcohol consumption are not going to give a rat's rear end what the label says. Those who are consistently watching the calories already know that alcoholic beverages are calorically high. Do we really need the government mandating the rules for every aspect of our lives? Frankly, I'm getting mighty tired of it.