Why Don't Alcoholic Beverage Containers have Nutritional Labels like other Food and Beverage Containers?
A reader recently sent the following e-mail.
Professor,
I have a question for you.
Why is it that the alcohol industry is exempt from placing nutrition facts on their bottling labels?
All other beverages, including water and the food industry are required to place this information on their labels.
I look forward to hearing from you.
F.J.C. (Name omitted to protect privacy.)
Dear F.J.C.:
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), formerly the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), specifically prohibits alcohol producers from placing nutritional information on beverage containers or advertising. This is a result of temperance-oriented laws and policies established upon the repeal of National Prohibition in 1933.
Here is nutritional information from the United States Department of Agriculture:
| Beverage | Calories | Carbs (grams) | Fat (grams) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic | |||
| Beer (regular) | 146 | 13.13 | .000 |
| Beer (lite) | 99 | 4.60 | .000 |
| All Distilled Spirits (rum, vodka, whiskey, gin, tequila, bourbon, etc.) | 97 | 0.00 | .000 |
| Wine (red) | 125 | 3.5 | .000 |
| Wine (white) | 120 | 3.5 | .000 |
| Non-Alcoholic | |||
| Apple juice (unsweetened) | 117 | 28.96 | .273 |
| Apricot juice | 140 | 36.11 | .226 |
| Carbonated cola | 155 | 39.77 | .000 |
| Grape juice (unsweetened) | 155 | 37.84 | .202 |
| Grapefruit juice (unsweetened) | 94 | 22.13 | .247 |
| Lemonade | 131 | 34.05 | .149 |
| Milk (2% fat) | 122 | 11.41 | 4.807 |
| Orange juice (unsweetened) | 112 | 26.84 | .149 |
| Prune juice | 182 | 44.67 | .077 |
| Tangerine juice (unsweetened) | 125 | 29.88 | .098 |
| Tomato juice | 41 | 10.30 | .122 |
- Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 16-1. Available at www.nal.usda.gov/.
You can learn more about issues surrounding alcohol beverage labeling at:
- Alcoholic Beverage Nutritional Information is Prohibited on Labels
- Nutrition Labels for Alcoholic Beverages
- Beverage Alcohol Labeling: Public Opinion Strongly Supports Alcohol Content and Nutritional Labels
- Alcoholic Beverage Nutritional Labeling
- Alcoholic Beverage Nutrition Labels
Best regards,
David Hanson
filed under: Diet
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