Plans for labelling the calorie content of alcoholic beverages should be tabled by the European Commission at the latest in 2016, according to members of the European Parliament. The resolution calls for a new EU Alcohol Strategy focusing on alcohol consumption by minors and EU-wide labelling to discourage drink driving and drinking while pregnant.
Members of the European Parliament have called on the European Commission to “immediately begin work on the new EU Alcohol Strategy (2016-2022)” in order to assist national governments in dealing with alcohol-related harm. In a resolution passed late last week, they said the strategy should include collecting reliable data, improving prevention and treatment, reducing accidents caused by drink driving and analysing various drinking patterns.
Label ingredients and calories
According to the European Parliament, the European Commission should evaluate whether the requirement to provide consumers with information on ingredients and nutritional content should apply to alcoholic beverages.
They said the calorie content of alcoholic beverages should be clearly stated, and the Commission should table a legislative proposal to this end in 2016 at the latest.
Australian Food News reported in March 2015 that global beverage giant Diageo had announced it would provide consumers around the world with alcohol content and nutrition information per typical serve — a first for any alcohol company.
The European Parliament has also called for the Commission to consider EU-wide labelling to warn pregnant women not to consume alcohol and to alert drinkers to the dangers of drink driving.
Call to enforce legislation on drinking age limit
The European Parliament has also urged EU member states to step up efforts to protect young people by strictly enforcing legislation on the drinking age limit, and has recommended that they monitor the effects of alcohol advertising on young people and limit their exposure. Member states should also consider measures against the sale of very cheap alcohol, according to the European Parliament.
The European Parliament has also said the European Commission should also tackle cross-border sales of alcohol via the internet. Member states have been urged to run campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of binge drinking, especially for minors, and step up efforts to reduce road accidents related to drink driving.
