CHOICE calls for improved labelling on alcoholic drinks

For many, the holiday season is often associated with rich food and alcohol. But consumer group CHOICE has raised the question: do you really know the nutritional value of your favourite festive tipple?

After highlighting labelling loopholes in the beverage industry, CHOICE has called for mandatory labels that display the kilojoule count of alcoholic beverages.

“While consumers can find out the amount of kilojoules they’ll be consuming if they bite into a hamburger or a packet of chocolate biscuits, a loophole in Australia’s food regulation means that alcohol companies are exempt from providing this information,” explained CHOICE spokesperson Katinka Day. “It doesn’t make sense that there’s one rule for a can of coke and another for a pre-mix can of coke and whiskey.”

The company used data from LiveLighter to compare the kilojoule content of popular alcoholic drinks. A can of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey & Cola was found to contain 1069 kJ, almost three times the amount of a bottle of Pure Blonde Ultra Low Carb Lager, at 387 kJ. It also revealed that you could consume about two and a half glasses of medium dry white wine for the same kilojoule intake as one can of Smirnoff Ice Double Black.

Therefore, for those who are hoping to minimise the damage of the festive season on their waistline or just looking to make healthier choices year round, there is a need for correct labelling. Consumers cannot make direct comparisons or informed choices about drinks without them.

Day also emphasised that although some companies do voluntarily disclose nutritional information, it can be misleading.

“On closer look, they pull the sneaky tactic of not disclosing kilojoules on all of their products, especially their high-kilojoule options.” For example, Lion Corporation displays the nutritional information of its beers, but not the higher-kilojoule ciders. Carlton and United Breweries, on the other hand, shares the kilojoule content of its beer and cider products, but does not reveal the same information for 22 of the 28 spirits listed on its website.

Alcohol is not only classified alongside chips and other confectionery as a discretionary food — high in kilojoules but low in nutritional value — but it is now the leading contributor to Australia’s energy intake from discretionary foods. Other high-kilojoule culprits (including fast food chains) display the nutritional information that may encourage us to limit ourselves, but what information is there to prevent us having just one more glass of eggnog or mulled wine?

CHOICE has argued that selective kilojoule information is not acceptable and the alcohol industry should not be allowed to continue to self-regulate. With almost two-thirds of Australian adults classified as obese or overweight, alcoholic beverages cannot continue to be exempt from providing nutritional information.

The issue is beginning to gain attention, with Australia’s Health and Food Ministers recently agreeing to launch a public consultation on kilojoule labelling in alcoholic beverages early next year. CHOICE has also launched a campaign to put pressure on the government to close the labelling loophole and introduce mandatory labels for alcoholic beverages.

To find out more information or to join the campaign, click here.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/VasileiosEconomou