New FDA Rule: Alcohol Calorie Info Required on Restaurant Menus

• Print
• Email

Details

Created: Wednesday, December 03 2014 12:10

December 3, 2014
Three years after the original proposal, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a final rule on December 1 that requires restaurants to publish calorie information for alcoholic beverages that are standard menu items listed on a menu or menu board. The final rule is a win for the public and the availability of alcohol product information, as the FDA originally stated that alcoholic beverages would not be covered. The rule goes into effect on December 1, 2015.

Alcohol comprises as much as one-fifth of adult calorie consumption in the U.S. Per the FDA FAQ page for this rule, the majority of comments the FDA received supported covering alcohol due to its impacts on public health. In 2011 Alcohol Justice (then Marin Institute) urged the FDA to adopt a menu labeling requirement at restaurants and similar retail food establishments. Read our 2011 letter to the FDA here.