ABV labeling

[unkle bik]

I have noticed in the past few years that US brewers are following the rest of the world by listing the ABV on their labels. However, not every beer has done so.

My question is this:
Has the FDA forced the US brewing industry to label ABV or is this a voluntary thing?

I personally would like to see this on every beer label.
Tell us what you think.

[newportstorm]

I'd also like to see some uniform pieces of information listed on labels - ABV being one of them. But since many breweries still do not print it, I'd have to assume it's not mandated by law. And I think the BATF, not the FDA, oversees the labelling requirements of alcohol.

Cheers!

[brewmonkey]

Has the FDA forced the US brewing industry to label ABV or is this a voluntary thing?

The FDA has no say in how labels are done, that is all up to the ATF and they do not require it. The only thing required on the label is the Government warning.

[steveh]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
...that is all up to the ATF and they do not require it. The only thing required on the label is the Government warning.

But for the longest time (up until just recently?) the alcohol wasn't allowed on beer labels, correct? They figured it was only advertising for drunkeness.

S.

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by steveh
But for the longest time (up until just recently?) the alcohol wasn't allowed on beer labels, correct? They figured it was only advertising for drunkeness.

S.


True. Until somewhat recently, ABV's on labels were illegal. Breweries had to fight to be able to put it on their labels. I believe the reason the ATF didn't want it on the labels was they though it would create "strength wars" among the breweries to see who could come up with the highest ABV.

[brewmonkey]

The ATF is very strange when it comes to what can/cannot go on a label. Bert Grant was a pioneer in the label field many years ago when he put nutrition content on his labels, it sent the ATF into a frenzy.

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by brewmonkey
The ATF is very strange when it comes to what can/cannot go on a label. Bert Grant was a pioneer in the label field many years ago when he put nutrition content on his labels, it sent the ATF into a frenzy.


I remember when I was working for another brewery and we were going through label approval, we sent in our labels and they came back and "change this, this, and this." We did and sent them back again. They came back and suddenly thing that didn't need to be changed before, now were unacceptable. The ATF is indeed bizarre when it comes to what goes on a label. There's no rhyme or reason to it.

[Caffinehog]

If I'm not mistaken, the FDA is lobbying to put ABV and nutrition labels on ALL alcoholic beverages right now. I think it's a good idea, and I'd love to see it. I think, though, there should be an exception for beers that sell less than a certain volume... Heinekin, Labats, and Budweiser had better have it, but I wouldn't require it on, say, lambics or your local brewery's beer.

[Beaver]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
True. Until somewhat recently, ABV's on labels were illegal. Breweries had to fight to be able to put it on their labels. I believe the reason the ATF didn't want it on the labels was they though it would create "strength wars" among the breweries to see who could come up with the highest ABV.

That has kind of happened with Sam Adams Utopia and some fo the Dogfish Head brews.

[Stodbrew]

Yeah, it was bound to happen regardless of what the ATF did. So it was kind of a moot point to begin with. I think its a good idea to put the ABV on the label, if only for a reference point.

[Beaver]

Strength wars are pretty stupid to begin with. If you are just interested in strength, you can help yourself to hard liquor which labels it's % alcohol (is that required?). The weakest hard liquor is going to be stronger than the strongest beer (in most cases).

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by Beaver
Strength wars are pretty stupid to begin with. If you are just interested in strength, you can help yourself to hard liquor which labels it's % alcohol (is that required?). The weakest hard liquor is going to be stronger than the strongest beer (in most cases).

Nicely said. I couldn't agree more.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
Nicely said. I couldn't agree more.

Ditto that.

S.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
...The ATF is indeed bizarre when it comes to what goes on a label. There's no rhyme or reason to it.

I worked on recreating some labels for a local brew-pub that was starting to have their beer contracted for bottling. They warned me of all the possibilities of rejection, so I think it took me twice as long as a regular project just to double-check every little detail.

S.

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
True. Until somewhat recently, ABV's on labels were illegal. Breweries had to fight to be able to put it on their labels. I believe the reason the ATF didn't want it on the labels was they though it would create "strength wars" among the breweries to see who could come up with the highest ABV.

I find tht pretty ironic. Breweries volunteering information that wasn't required, & the ATF telling them to take it off.
Interesting.
For me, they can trash that useless Surgeon General warning & tell me more about the beer.

[sallad]

what we need here is a good lawsuit -- some one who gets busted for DUI and says "well, i know my limits, i can have 3 michelob ultras and still be fine to drive. but i had 3 mgd's tonight, and all of the sudden i'm over the limit? i had no idea i was drinking that much more alcohol! they should be required to print it!"

[kgaugler]

Careful sallad, you might just get what you wish for.

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by sallad
what we need here is a good lawsuit -- some one who gets busted for DUI and says "well, i know my limits, i can have 3 michelob ultras and still be fine to drive. but i had 3 mgd's tonight, and all of the sudden i'm over the limit? i had no idea i was drinking that much more alcohol! they should be required to print it!"

I doubt that would actually get past the trial lawyer. It does not say on the label what a "legal limit" is. States of intoxication can vary on a number of things besides amount consumed: body mass, sex, food in digestive tract, mood, other psychoactive substances, etc. What may be intoxicating one day to you, may not the next. The label only "suggests" that it may impair your ability to drive. A declaration of the amount of alcohol tells only that, not a degree of intoxication.

Oh course, in today's lawsuit happy world somebody would challenge it.

[sallad]

Careful sallad, you might just get what you wish for.

sorry, i guess i was feeling rather cynical earlier... :) don't sue each other, everybody!