Under two new rules proposed this Thursday by the Treasury Department, the labels of wine, distilled spirits and malt-based beverages in the United States must indicate the alcohol content and nutritional information per serving, in addition to notifying possible allergens .
The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is seeking public input on proposals to require an alcohol content information box – similar to food nutrition labels – in which indicate the alcohol, calories, carbohydrates, fats and proteins content per serving. A second rule would require the main allergens to be declared on labels, such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, wheat, peanuts, soy and sesame.
The changes are consistent with the agency’s mandate to “ensure that labels provide consumers with adequate information about the identity, quality, and alcohol content of alcoholic beverages,” according to an announcement published in the Federal Register.
Similar rules were first proposed nearly two decades ago and subsequently defended in petitions filed by advocacy groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
“The proposals represent a momentous step to ensure that consumers have access to the information they need to make informed decisions, follow health guidelines and avoid allergic reactions,” CSPI officials said in a statement.
Companies have been able to provide information voluntarily for several years. In August 2021, a survey by the Beer Institute indicated that 95% of the volume of beer sold by several major producers contained nutritional information provided voluntarily, the office said. Advocates, however, argued that a limited number of companies used voluntary labels, “underscoring the need for a mandatory policy.”
The Wine Institute, a trade group, said it would support digital labels that contained the required information. “Given the unique nature of winemaking, the most accurate and least burdensome approach to providing nutritional information to consumers would be to allow the option of off-label disclosure via QR code or other electronic means,” the group said.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States also suggested QR codes or references to internet sites.
Comments will be accepted until April 16. The regulations will come into force five years after their final approval.
This is the second major change to alcoholic beverage labels announced in the final days of the Biden Administration. On January 5, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for new warnings about the link between alcohol and cancer.
The new proposals come as the government is updating dietary guidelines, including those on alcohol, that will form the cornerstone of federal food policy and programs. Updated guidelines are expected later this year.
Current guidelines recommend that women have one drink or less per day, while men should limit themselves to two or less.