Poor alcohol labelling ‘is failing consumers’

Alcohol labelling is failing consumers by leaving “vital” information such as ingredients and sugar content off most packaging, campaigners have said.

A survey of labels on 369 products by the Alcohol Health Alliance UK found just 6 per cent displayed the sugar content, 42 per cent stated the number of calories and 20 per cent provided the full list of ingredients.

Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, alliance chairman, called on ministers to make it a legal requirement for alcohol firms to follow the labelling rules used by the rest of the food and drink industry.

“Alcohol is not only a risk factor for cancer but it fuels obesity, with some alcoholic drinks containing more calories than a Mars bar,” he said.