Labeling alcohol bottles with calorie counts could be an effective strategy to reduce consumption and thus lower obesity rates.
- In the UK three out of four people are unaware of the calorie levels of alcohol.
- Alcohol is the second most caloric source of energy, just behind fat.
- Two in three UK adults would support the decision to introduce labelling.
Alcoholic beverages contain a lot of calories. A glass of wine would be as caloric as a slice of cake and a single cocktail can even be as heavy as a full meal! Despite this, nutrition labeling of alcoholic beverages is not compulsory, despite the European desire to adopt a resolution to this effect. The fault, in particular, with a strong lobbying of the industry which opposes that the nutritional labeling of foodstuffs applies to alcohol.
Inform the public
However, this strategy would be effective in reducing consumption and therefore lowering the obesity rate, according to a new study published at the beginning of the year in the journal Obesity Reviews. The first observation from the study’s authors, who are researchers from the University of Liverpool, is that in the UK three out of four people are unaware of the calorie levels of alcohol. The first benefit of such a measure would therefore be to inform the population about the caloric dangers of alcohol consumption.
“While it’s unclear if calorie labels will have a significant impact on what people choose to drink, ensuring beverages are clearly labeled is a step in the right direction and may also encourage the calorie industry. calorie-reducing alcohol in beverages”, assures Dr. Eric Robinson, lead author of the study.
The second most caloric source of energy
For the research, the scientists looked at data from 18 previous studies conducted around the world. The results showed that, gram by gram, alcohol is the second most caloric source of energy, just behind fat. “In regular drinkers, alcohol-derived energy can make a significant contribution to daily energy intake”, believes Eric Robinson.
In addition, the authors ensure that around two out of three British adults would support the decision to introduce labelling. “Calorie labeling of alcoholic beverages is a public health measure that could be used to tackle both alcohol consumption and obesitythe researchers wrote. There is a level of evidence that people tend to ignore the energy content of alcoholic beverages. This suggests they are more likely to support than oppose energy labeling of alcoholic beverages.”
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