George McGovern Speaks Out For Alcohol Labeling
A couple of things to listen for in old George’s quick presentation. While he mentions a number of times the need for calorie representation and a standardized drink serving — all well and good — you might notice that the word “complete” keeps on getting slipped into his argument. He also begins the video by bringing up the listing of ingredients in packaged foods as a point of comparison. This is where the “slippery slope” of lableing advocacy begins. Take a look at The Center For Science In The Public Interest, the link will take you directly to their “Alcohol” section, and the first few words of the section’s intro will give you a good idea where their collective heads are at (”The alcoholic-beverage industry’s relentless marketing and powerful political influence, coupled with ineffective government alcohol policies, contribute to this ongoing public health and safety epidemic.”) There’s a fine line between the advocacy of nutritional labeling on adult beverages and neo-prohibitionism. Check their section on “Labeling” too.
Listing calories, “complete” listings and the listing of ingredients on the labels of alcoholic beverages are different layers of compliance and McGovern just rolls over all of these terms, making it difficult to understand what he’s really advocating here. I’ll agree that the time for nutritional labeling of all adult beverages is now, but you give these consumer advocacy groups and their spokespeopeople like McGovern and inch and you have to wonder where the foot of demands will appear.
Watch the video and you decide.
Of course for beer drinkers, the best way to approach the nutritional aspects of beer is by picking up a copy of Does My BUTT Look BIG In This BEER? Nutritional Values Of 2,000 Worldwide Beers.
