Call For Calorie Content On Alcohol

Local Government Association wants makers of alcoholic drinks to display the calorie count on bottles and cans.

20:51 06 January 2016

With the mission to fight obesity, the Local Government Association, which represents nearly 400 councils, wants makers of alcoholic drinks to display the calorie count on bottles and cans.  

 

LGA said that calories from alcohol do not have nutritional value and that drinking alcohol reduces the body’s ability to burn fats.

 

Izzi Seccombe, of the LGA, said: "Most people are aware that excessive alcohol can lead to serious health problems like liver and heart damage, and an increased risk of cancer. However, the amount of calories from an average night's drinking isn't so well-known.

"The onus is on the big breweries to do more to provide clear and prominent labelling. Providing people with the right information allows them to make choices about what they eat and drink.

 

"Prevention is the only way we are going to tackle the obesity crisis, which is costing the NHS more than £5bn every year."

The Royal Society for Public Health has already called for calorie labels to be put in place to let drinkers know that drinking a large glass of wine contains around 200 calories, which is the same as a doughnut.