The European Parliament recently gave their green signal to a proposal that would require the mandatory labeling of calories on alcoholic beverages. The idea is to help consumers make informed decisions about the drinks they consume.

The Proposal

The proposal was made by the European Commission, which had called for the change back in April 2018. After a lot of discussions and debates, the European Parliament finally approved the proposal in March 2019.

As per the proposal, alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits, will have to list the calories and nutritional information on their labels. This information will include the amount of energy in kilocalories (Kcal), fat, carbohydrates, and proteins in grams per 100 ml.

Why the Need for the Change?

Alcoholic drinks are known to be high in calories, but most people are unaware of the actual caloric content of their favorite beverages. As per a survey, most EU consumers underestimate the calories of their drinks by around 20%.

This underestimation often leads to overconsumption of alcohol, which can lead to weight gain and ill health.

Moreover, studies have also suggested that around 9% of the total caloric intake of the EU population comes from alcoholic drinks.

This high consumption of calories can lead to obesity, which is a major health risk factor for various health issues, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Impact on Manufacturers and Consumers

The new proposal will have a significant impact on both manufacturers and consumers. Manufacturers will have to invest in the necessary technology to provide accurate caloric information for their products.

This will require modifications to the labeling equipment and the software to analyze the nutritional content.

Consumers, on the other hand, will benefit from the additional information. The proposal will help prevent overconsumption of alcohol and promote responsible drinking.

Implementation and Timeline

The new regulation is expected to come into force from December 2019. Member states will have two years to implement the necessary changes.

During this transition period, manufacturers can choose to label the calorific content either per serving or per 100 ml. However, from December 2021, the calorie and nutritional information must be listed on all alcoholic beverages sold within the European Union.

Conclusion

The new regulation proposed by the European Parliament is a step in the right direction to promote responsible drinking and reduce the risk of obesity and other health problems.

It will help improve the transparency of the nutritional content of alcoholic beverages, enabling consumers to make better-informed decisions about the drinks they consume.