CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE
INTRODUCTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LABELING LEGISLATION (2/23/99)
Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC), in response to the Treasury Department's approval of new wine labels, has introduced three new pieces of legislation on alcoholic beverage labeling.
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Treasury Department approved new language for wine labels, at the request of members of the wine industry, that direct consumers to obtain a copy of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for information about the health effects of wine consumption. NCADD opposed that approval on the grounds that consumers, especially heavy drinkers, would equate the words "health effects" with "health benefits" and use that as an excuse to continue to drink.
Senator Thurmond, the original sponsor of the legislation that
requires the government warning on all alcoholic beverage
containers, also opposed Treasury's action. Yesterday, he
introduced three bills to challenge that move:
S. 431, The Alcoholic Beverage Act of 1999, which would transfer authority over alcoholic beverage labeling from the Department of Treasury to the Department of Health and Human Services;
S. 432, The Alcohol Abuse, Prevention and Treatment Trust Fund Act of 1999, which would create a trust fund dedicated to programs for prevention and treatment paid for by a new tax on wine; (Senator Thurmond included only wine because members of that industry so far are the sole users of the new health language. He may introduce legislation for beer and distilled spirits if those producers add new health language to their labels); and, S. 433, The Alcoholic Beverage Label Preservation Act of 1999, which would block the use of the two new health claims approved by Treasury.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Write or call your senators and representative and urge them to support Senator Thurmond's legislation. Or email your senators and representative at: The U. S. House of Representatives and
The U. S. Senate.
However, it is important to point out the need to increase beer excise taxes as well. A sample letter follows:
The Honorable --
United States Senate/House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510/20510
Dear Senator/Representative:
Please cosponsor Senator Thurmond's efforts to maintain a
rational public policy on the labeling of alcoholic beverages.
On February 22, 1999, he introduced S. 431, the Alcoholic
Beverage Labeling Act of 1999, S. 432, the Alcohol Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Trust Fund Act of 1999 and S. 433, the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1999.
These three pieces of legislation, which are in response to the recent approval by the U.S. Treasury Department's approval of new wine labels requested by the wine industry, will provide a needed balance in the labeling of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholism and other alcohol-related problems are serious threats to the health and economy of our country and can, in part, be addressed by Senator Thurmond's bills.
S. 431 would put the responsibility of labeling in the hands of the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS has more
experience in health related matters and is the appropriate
agency for this task.
S. 432 would dedicate an increase in wine excise taxes for
prevention and treatment. This is an excellent idea but beer
taxes should also be increased because more problem drinkers
drink beer than any other alcoholic beverage.
S. 433 would prohibit wineries from using the new language
approved by the Treasury Department. Consumers, usually heavy
drinkers, are likely to equate the words "health effects" with
"health benefits" and use that as an excuse to drink, whether it is good for them or not.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Policy Office via e-mail at publicpolicy@ncadd.org.