The National Consumers League has urged U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to direct the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to implement proposed nutrition labeling regulations for alcohol producers by June. In a letter to Yellen, the organization, which advocates for nutrition and consumer rights, emphasized its long-standing campaign for a “Serving Facts” label on all alcoholic beverages. This label would include information about alcohol content, calories, serving size, and the number of standard drinks per container. Despite two decades of advocacy, the group noted that the regulatory agency overseeing certain alcohol products has largely ignored their requests.
The National Consumers League referenced a letter from the TTB in 2022, which committed to issuing three mandatory rules for alcohol producers. At that time, the agency indicated these rules would be released by the end of 2023, a deadline that has since passed, according to the consumer advocacy group. This development followed a lawsuit initiated by the National Consumers League and two other organizations aimed at enforcing a labeling requirement.
In their recent correspondence to Yellen, the group expressed concern that the agency might delay discussions for months, depriving consumers of essential information needed for informed drinking choices. At the time of writing, neither the TTB nor the U.S. Department of the Treasury had responded to requests for comment.
The National Consumers League emphasized that consumers would greatly benefit from enhanced nutritional and alcohol content labeling on products such as wine and spirits. They highlighted the health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption, including certain cancers and obesity, as well as the fact that alcohol is involved in 30% of traffic fatalities.
In a statement, Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League, pointed out that while the TTB has often argued that nutrition labels are too costly and labor-intensive for alcohol producers, many companies already provide labeling for select ready-to-drink beverages. “The inconvenient truth for the industry is that some of the very same companies whose products do not include a Serving Facts statement under TTB regulation already provide complete alcohol labeling on their hard ciders, hard seltzers, wine coolers, and other FDA-regulated wines and beers,” Greenberg stated.
Additionally, when considering dietary supplements, such as calcium citrate, it’s important to note that many people wonder whether they can take calcium citrate with food. Proper labeling would help consumers understand not just alcohol content but also the nutritional aspects of their choices, further supporting informed decisions regarding their health and wellness.