Noah Vinter
Alcoholic drinks are often calorie-dense, and these calories are often described as 'empty calories' as they have little to no nutritional value. Despite this, alcoholic drinks are usually exempt from nutritional labelling laws. In the UK, alcoholic drinks with more than 1.2% ABV are not required by law to display calorie information on the label. While there is a relative absence of evidence on the impact of alcoholic drink energy labelling on consumer behaviour, there is some evidence that restaurants may have removed very high-calorie products from menus in response to the announcement of mandatory energy labelling requirements in the US.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Calorie count laws | Require restaurants to post food energy and nutritional information on menus |
| First US menu item calorie labelling law | Enacted in 2008 in New York City |
| First state to enact a calorie count law | California, in 2009 |
| Non-compliance fines | Up to $2,000 |
| Alcoholic drinks | Exempt from nutritional labelling laws |
| Alcohol | Calorie-dense |
| Alcoholic drink energy labelling | May have a limited impact on population obesity prevalence |
| Food energy labelling | Has a small effect on consumer behaviour |
| UK supermarkets | An increase in energy labelling of alcoholic drinks since 2014 |
| Alcoholic drinks sold in the out-of-home sector in the UK | Energy labelling is uncommon |
| Alcoholic drinks in Victoria, Australia | 80% of sampled packaging had no nutritional information |
| Consumer need for alcohol energy labelling | Depends on awareness of calories in alcoholic drinks |
| Average calories in beer or wine | 150 |
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What You'll Learn
Alcoholic drinks are exempt from nutritional labelling laws
The lack of nutritional labelling on alcoholic drinks has been attributed to various factors. Firstly, alcoholic drinks are not considered food products and, therefore, are not subject to the same labelling laws. Additionally, alcohol manufacturers have successfully resisted calls for mandatory labelling, arguing that providing nutritional information could mislead consumers into believing that alcohol is a nutritious substance.
In some cases, alcoholic drinks with lower alcohol content, such as wines with less than 7% alcohol and beers without malted barley, may fall under FDA rules requiring standard nutrition facts and ingredients to be listed. However, calorie counts and detailed nutritional information are typically optional for alcoholic beverages.
The impact of alcoholic drink energy labelling on consumer behaviour is unclear. While some studies suggest that nutritional labelling on food menus has a minimal effect on behaviour, others argue that the lack of labelling on alcoholic drinks contributes to consumers being unaware of the calorie content of their drinks. This lack of awareness can have significant public health implications, as many adults consume a substantial number of calories from alcohol without realising it.
There have been efforts to increase the energy labelling of alcoholic drinks. Since 2014, there has been an increase in energy labelling on alcoholic drinks sold in UK supermarkets, although it is still not widespread. Similarly, a study of packaged alcoholic beverages in Victoria, Australia, found that 80% of samples lacked nutritional information. While there are no specific studies on pubs, bars, and restaurants in the UK, energy labelling in these settings is considered uncommon.
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Alcohol is calorie-dense
Alcoholic beverages are calorie-dense, with 7 calories per gram, almost as many as a gram of fat. A standard glass of wine can contain up to 158 calories, and some pints of stronger lager can contain up to 222 calories. Going out for a couple of drinks can add 500 calories or more to your daily intake. Cocktails mixed with soda, juice, cream, or ice cream can have especially high-calorie counts. Drinking four bottles of 12% strength wine a month can add up to a yearly consumption of up to 32,400 calories.
Alcohol is often exempt from nutritional labelling laws that require energy content information to be displayed on packaging or at the point of purchase. There is limited evidence on the impact of alcoholic drink energy labelling on consumer behaviour, and it is unclear how energy labelling of alcoholic drinks would affect population obesity prevalence. However, a 2020 study of supermarket-sold alcoholic drinks in the UK found that 63% of products sampled contained no energy information on the labels. Similarly, an 80% sample of alcoholic beverage packaging in Victoria, Australia, lacked nutritional information.
The high-calorie content of alcohol is due to the high concentration of alcohol by volume, which can be as high as 40% in hard liquors. This means that a significant proportion of the beverage can be converted to energy, resulting in a high-calorie count. In addition, many alcoholic drinks are made from natural starch and sugar, which contribute to the calorie content.
The impact of alcohol calories on weight gain can be mitigated by drinking in moderation, staying hydrated, and choosing healthier snacks. The NHS recommends that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across 3 days or more.
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Alcohol manufacturers have resisted pressure to include nutritional labels
Alcoholic beverages, like many other drinks, contain calories that can add up quickly. Going out for a couple of drinks can add 500 calories or more to your daily intake. Alcohol is calorie-dense, but unlike food products, alcoholic drinks tend to be exempt from nutritional labelling laws that require energy content information to be displayed on packaging or at the point of purchase. While the government is comfortable with keeping alcohol separate from FDA regulations, there have been several attempts to convince regulatory bodies otherwise. Consumer advocacy groups such as the Center for Science in the Public Interest have argued that alcohol labels should include comprehensive information, while some manufacturers have defended a more hands-off approach to ingredient labelling and nutrition facts.
In 2013, the TTB made nutrition labels optional for booze, but not required. However, some experts think it's a real public health issue. "Many adults take in a tremendous amount of calories from alcohol, and they have no idea," says Sara Bleich, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins. She has found that the average American who drinks regularly takes in 400 calories daily from alcohol—not a huge surprise, given that the average beer or glass of wine has about 150 calories. While some alcohol industry groups, such as Diageo (which owns Guinness and Smirnoff), have supported mandatory labelling, others have not. Beer manufacturers, sensitive to the high amounts of calories and carbs in beer, argued it was unfair to define a serving size as 12 ounces for a beer and 1.5 ounces for liquor, since many mixed drinks end up containing much more.
Wine industry groups expressed concern about the difficulty and cost of testing every vintage. In response to all this, in May 2013, the TTB issued a new rule that kept labelling optional but added serving size, alcohol content, and servings per container to what companies were allowed to display. While these labels were legalized more than a year ago, it's more likely than not that you've never seen one on a bottle of alcohol. There is a relative absence of evidence on the impact that alcoholic drink energy labelling has on real-world consumer behaviour. However, there are a number of questions that will need to be answered by future research to make definitive conclusions on the potential for alcohol energy labelling policies to reduce obesity.
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Calorie counts are mandatory for low-alcohol drinks
Alcoholic drinks are calorie-dense, and the calories consumed through drinking are usually additional to the calories consumed from food. This can lead to unintended weight gain. Alcohol is exempt from the nutritional labelling laws that require energy content information to be displayed on packaging or at the point of purchase. However, since 2013, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has made nutrition labels optional for alcoholic beverages. Still, manufacturers have mostly chosen not to include them.
Calorie counts are currently only mandatory for low-alcohol drinks with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 1.2% or less in the UK. These drinks are legally required to display nutritional information on the label. This includes all 'alcohol-free' options, although it is important to note that alcohol-free drinks can contain up to 0.5% ABV. This legislation ensures that consumers have access to calorie information when choosing these beverages.
The inclusion of nutritional labels on alcoholic drinks has been a topic of debate. Some argue that it could help consumers make informed choices, especially those trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. It is also suggested that it could lead to a decrease in the total calories purchased, as seen in studies on food energy labelling. Additionally, it could incentivise manufacturers to produce lower-calorie options, similar to what happened after the introduction of the soft drinks industry levy in the UK.
On the other hand, some critics argue that including a nutrition label on alcohol might make it seem more like a food than a drug. They suggest that labels should include facts like alcohol percentage, serving size, and calories, while excluding nutrients that could make alcohol seem comparable to food. Additionally, alcohol manufacturers have resisted mandatory labelling, arguing that it could lead to consumers erroneously believing that alcohol is nutritious. Despite the ongoing debate, the current legislation in the UK ensures that calorie counts are mandatory for low-alcohol drinks, providing consumers with the information they need to make informed choices about their beverage consumption.
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Alcohol calories are often described as 'empty calories'
Calories from alcohol are often referred to as "empty calories". This is because alcoholic drinks tend to be exempt from nutritional labelling laws and have little to no nutritional value. Alcohol is calorie-dense, with a standard glass of wine containing up to 158 calories and some pints of lager containing up to 222 calories. Alcoholic drinks are often high in sugar and contain almost as many calories per gram as fat.
Consuming alcohol affects the way the body processes fat for energy. While the body can store nutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and fat, it prioritises getting rid of alcohol, which is toxic. This interrupts other processes such as nutrient absorption and fat processing, leading to increased fat storage around the middle, commonly known as a "beer belly". This type of fat, laid down around important organs in the abdomen, can be particularly harmful.
Alcoholic drinks with more than 1.2% ABV are not required by law to display calorie information on their labels in the UK. However, since April 2022, bigger chains of restaurants, pubs, and online stores have had to display calorie information for drinks with less than 1.2% ABV. While there is limited evidence on the impact of energy labelling on consumer behaviour, some studies suggest that providing energy labelling results in a small decrease in total calories purchased.
The term "empty calories" refers to calories found in foods and beverages that are primarily composed of calorie-rich macronutrients like sugars and fats, but lack micronutrients, fibre, or protein. These types of calories have low nutrient density and can create an unhealthy diet, making it difficult to maintain a balanced diet within recommended energy intake levels. A diet high in alcohol can lead to nutrient deficiencies, particularly of zinc, vitamin D, thiamine, folate, cyanocobalamin, and selenium.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, alcoholic drinks contain calories. A standard glass of wine can contain up to 158 calories, and some pints of stronger lager can contain up to 222 calories.
Alcoholic drinks are generally exempt from nutritional labelling laws. In the UK, alcoholic drinks with more than 1.2% ABV are not required by law to display calorie information on the label. However, since April 2022 in England, bigger chains of restaurants, pubs and online stores have to display calorie information for drinks with less than 1.2% ABV.
Listing calories on alcohol can help consumers make more informed decisions about their health and daily calorie intake. It can also incentivise manufacturers to produce lower-calorie products. However, some argue that including nutritional labels on alcohol might make it seem more like a food than a drug. Additionally, there is a relative absence of evidence on the impact that alcoholic drink energy labelling has on real-world consumer behaviour.
