The U.S. Treasury Department has proposed two new regulations that would enhance the labeling requirements for alcoholic beverages, including wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. If implemented, these rules would mandate labels to display detailed information about alcohol content and nutritional details per serving, as well as alert consumers to potential allergens.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), part of the Treasury Department, is currently seeking public feedback on these initiatives. One proposed change involves introducing an “alcohol facts” label akin to nutritional labels found on food products. This label would list not only the alcohol percentage but also the number of calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins contained in each serving. Another proposed rule would require alcoholic beverage labels to mention common allergens, such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soy, and sesame.
These proposed modifications align with the bureau’s objective to guarantee that labels furnish consumers with ample information regarding the identity, quality, and alcohol content of their beverages, as stated in the official notice in the Federal Register. Although similar regulations were initially suggested nearly twenty years ago and further promoted by advocacy organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the implementation has taken time to develop.
Representatives from the CSPI have praised the proposals, calling them a significant advancement towards providing consumers with the necessary information to make informed choices, adhere to health recommendations, and avoid potential allergic reactions.
For several years, companies could choose to provide this information voluntarily. According to a survey conducted by the Beer Institute in August 2021, approximately 95% of beer volumes sold by major producers included voluntarily disclosed nutrition information. However, advocates argue that the use of voluntary labels is limited, emphasizing the need for compulsory regulations.
The Wine Institute, which represents the wine industry, expressed support for the inclusion of digital labels containing these required details. They suggested that given the specificities of winemaking, a viable approach to providing nutritional information would be to permit off-label disclosures through QR codes or other electronic methods. Similarly, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States also recommends the integration of QR codes or links to relevant websites.
Public comments on these proposals will be accepted until April 16, and, pending final approval, the new rules are expected to take effect five years later. This update marks the second significant labeling change announced during the latter part of the Biden administration. On January 5, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed new warnings regarding the connection between alcohol consumption and cancer.
These label proposals are coinciding with ongoing efforts by the government to revise dietary guidelines, including those relating to alcohol, which serve as a foundation for federal food programs and policies. New guidelines are anticipated to be released later this year. Currently, the guidelines suggest that women should limit their alcohol intake to one drink or less per day, while men should aim for two or fewer.
