Following a voluntary guideline adapted by the lobbying group Beer Institute, major American brewers on July 12 announced a plan to add nutrition labels on beer products by 2020.
Companies such as MillerCoors, Heineken NV and AB InBev Inc. will place beer labels that disclose details on calorie count, the amount of carbs, fat and protein, as well as serving size.
Other companies that will take part in the measure include Craft Brew Alliance Inc., Constellation Brands Inc. and North American Breweries. These six companies account for more than 80 percent of beer volume in the U.S., according to the Beer Institute.
Pressure From Advocates
Consumer advocates have been calling on the alcohol industry to include ingredient information on products. AB InBev and MillerCoors have said that the freshness date and the list of ingredients will either be added to the packaging or become available online.
But Michael Jacobson, president of the nonprofit organization known as the Center for Science in the Public Interest, slammed the proposed measure.
"If the industry takes pride in its ingredients, it should list them on labels," says Jacobson.
He also says calorie-counting is not the only goal of a healthy lifestyle. He says readable and accessible labels on drinks can help consumers make healthy choices to improve their health.
Jacobson adds that alcohol is a major source of calories for the average American, and the absence of labels on bottles and cans has "obscured" that. He says companies can artificially flavor, sweeten, color or preserve these products.
On the other hand, Jim McGreevy, president of the Beer Institute, says companies are open to the debate over adding ingredient lists on products, but are "proud" of their plan to disclose nutritional facts to consumers.
Expanding The Reach
Some of the country's most famous beer products already feature nutrition facts, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In 2013, the alcohol regulatory group known as The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau gave brewers a format to list serving facts on beer products.
The move to expand this measure comes amid increasing consumer awareness and interest in nutrition information, as well as the efforts of the government to require companies to put up warnings of added sugar on labels.
A Healthy Lifestyle
Too much alcohol consumption can lead to alcoholism, a drinking behavior that plagues millions of adults in the country.
While experts do not recommend completely shunning alcohol because of potential health benefits, the beverage should be taken in moderation.
According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, women should take just one drink per day while men could take two drinks per day. Labeled beer cans may help consumers better follow these guidelines.
Photo: Ewan Munro | Flickr
