FDA to Decide Whether to List Calorie Counts for Alcoholic Beverages

The FDA is currently deciding whether or not to include calorie counts on alcoholic beverages so it's a great opportunity to let your opinion be known. Currently, according to Food Politics, the FDA says that alcoholic beverage calories are not listed because for some odd reason, they are regulated by the Treasury Department not the FDA.

But whatever the reason, we've yet to see labels. Just like I was unsure of whether fast food items should blatantly show calorie content, the food culture lover in me is unsure of whether or not we should show calories on alcoholic beverages. But one main difference is apparent, most of us are well aware that fast food is awful for us and that a hamburger, fries, and a soda is likely our entire day's caloric allowance.

But on the other hand, many of us are unaware that a margarita, extra large glass of chardonnay, or super sweet rum and coke could equal the calories that you had for lunch. We're unaware of how small serving sizes really are and we're unaware that having more than a few means it's difficult to stay in shape.

However, let it be known that calorie counts are completely unrealistic for small producers. They put an unnecessary burden on small breweries, distilleries, and wineries that are already at a huge disadvantage in a nation that makes it difficult for artisanal providers to thrive. I wrote about the plight of the microbrewery over at TreeHugger. According to the movie Beer Wars, the big beer producers will stop at nothing to put these microbreweries out of business so we don't need the government to help. Small producers have trouble getting their beer on the shelves and getting it in a place where people might see it. Large producers have a monopoly over the category managers (those that place and arrange the beer sections of grocery and convenience stores) and the wholesalers who deliver beer in the first place. If we want good quality producers, we have to let them thrive.

I can understand putting nutritional facts on alcoholic beverages, but this burden should in no way be placed on any small producers.

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