Calls to label calorie content of alcohol

AN alcoholic drink can be as fattening as a doughnut – but most consumers have no idea about the calorie overload, campaigners warn.

Pressure is growing for drinks companies to be compelled to label alcohol bottles with the number of calories in a bid to tackle obesity.

A glazed doughnut can contain up to 190 calories – around the same as a large glass of wine or pint of lager.

Even a standard 175ml glass of wine – containing between 126 and 160 calories – can be as fattening as a slice of rich Madeira cake.

But more than three-quarters of the public did not know or wrongly guessed the calories in a large glass of wine, a survey found. Nine out of 10 had no idea what a pint of lager contained. Tests showed those given more information drank 400 fewer calories by choosing different forms of alcohol, the Royal Society for (RSPH) said.

Its poll found two in three adults wanted to see alcohol calorie labels. It is calling on the drinks industry and EU health commissioner to introduce calorie labelling as drinking is fuelling an obesity epidemic.

The move was backed by Alcohol Concern, but drinks producers said the new laws could take years to pass and voluntary action in industry was the way ahead.

RSPH chief executive Shirley Cramer said: “There is a clear public appetite for this information.”

A small 125ml glass of dry white wine has about 85 calories, sparkling 90 calories, sweet white 120 and red 120.

The RSPH has urged the labelling change to be brought in throughout the EU and called for more research into the relationship between drinking and weight.

– Daily Mail

Public Health