Alcohol labels to have calorie count
NEW YORK (AP) – Want to know how many calories are in your shot of Johnnie Walker or your pint of Guinness? You’re about to find out.
Diageo, the global alcohol giant behind those brands, along with Smirnoff, Bailey’s, Bushmills and others, says it will put alcohol-content and nutrition information on the labels of its products. The label will include information like the drink’s alcohol by volume, fluid ounces of alcohol, calories, carbohydrates, and fat content based on a typical serving size.
The U.S. government approved nutritional labels for alcoholic beverages in 2013, but they’re voluntary. Diageo had long expressed interest in putting the information on its labels so it could appeal to consumers on low-carb diets. The company plans to seek approval for similar labeling in the European Union.
The information is also online at a company website, www.drinkiq.com .
London-based Diageo PLC is the world’s largest distiller. It reported about $17.5 billion in revenue in its last fiscal year.