Ever wonder why, unlike everything else in your pantry, alcoholic drinks don’t have labels touting calories, carbs and other nutritional information? According to Vox, there’s been a long history of heated debate between booze manufacturers, advocacy groups and governing bodies regarding just that.
Unlike most things we eat and drink, alcohol is under the supervision of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), a remnant of Prohibition-era legislation that hasn’t been able to make up its mind on labeling since marketwide tagging was put in place by the FDA, in 1990. Right now, the regulations they have in place vary widely depending on the beverage and are based on factors like alcohol content and ingredients, but—to the chagrin of health advocacy groups—make nutrition facts an optional endeavor.
The push for more universal labeling laws is currently led by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, with their biggest argument centered around calorie count and the necessity of labeling to curb the tide of obesity in America. However, with consistent pressure from manufacturers not to institute stricter policies, the TTB has done little to enact change. Yet, that is. [Vox] [Photo: Flickr/U.S. Department of Agriculture]