For those who have ever been curious about the calorie content of the rum in a rum and Coke, there is good news. The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a division of the Treasury, wants all beer, wine and liquor to have nutrition facts on the label like other food and drink products. The National Consumers League first proposed this in 2003 and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which is a coalition of 69 health groups, have petitioned the bureau. Some believe that adding nutrition facts would be pointless.
“I guess it would serve a purpose to some people, but I don’t see what it could be,” said James Weakley, University of Memphis senior English major.
The proposed labels would list the alcohol content per serving, the number of drinks each container could contain and the ingredients, in case of allergies, as well as calories for the health-conscious. However, the labels will not include carbohydrates, fat or sodium amounts. If enforced, it will be mandatory.
Bill Boywid, store manager for Buster’s Liquors and Wines, agreed with Weakley.
“I personally don’t think it’s necessary. Buying alcohol is a conscious effort. It is an adult matter,” he said.
Boywid said the current warning labels are adequate enough.
“You’re not handing a gun to a kid. You hope that the person is making the right decision and that everyone acts like an adult,” he said.
He doesn’t think the label would deter or encourage anyone from drinking.
Most people usually buy alcohol for leisure, and not medicinal purposes.
“Labels (on alcohol) are useless information. Most people are not drinking to be healthy, unless it is wine. The reason why they want to add nutrition facts now is because they are trying to cover their asses,” Weakley said.
The bureau has not made an official ruling yet about the fate of the label idea, but will be doing that soon.
A United Kingdom company that sells more than 300 brands of beer, wine and spirits, is planning this year to add nutrition labels to its U.S. products. The labels will include information about alcohol content, serving size, carbohydrates and calories.
Ultimately, it is up the person whether or not that they take that drink.
“It comes down to individual responsibility. Everybody has free will, I just hope they do the right thing,” Boywid said.
