The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence fights the stigma and the disease of alcoholism and other drug addictions.

NCADD Action Alert

BATF Requests Comments on Alcoholic Beverage Warning Labels

JUNE 21, 2001

On May 22, 2001, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms requested public comment regarding Alcohol-Beverage Health Warnings. The notice (No. 917) responds to the petition filed by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), four members of Congress, and 119 other health, consumer safety, and child-protection organizations. The petition calls for the BATF to require more effective label designs on alcoholic beverage containers.

BACKGROUND

The proposed petition would amend the Alcohol Beverage Labeling Act of 1998. The main concerns involve placement, legibility, and noticeability of health statements on alcoholic beverage containers. Currently, labels are obscure and difficult to read. They are sometimes placed vertically on the bottle neck and printed in a similar color to the container background. Petition Requests The health warning statement must appear in a prominent place, in a horizontal position, on the front of the container; The health warning statement must appear in red or black type on a white background, and be surrounded by a lined border; The first two words of the health warning statement (i.e., "GOVERNMENT WARNING") must appear in capital letters and boldface type that is at least 15 percent larger than the remaining text of the statement. The text of the remaining portion of the warning statement must be in upper and lower-case lettering. A particular type font should be required to maximize legibility; and, The warning statement must appear together with a red pictorial device or icon to attract consumer attention.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Write, fax or e-mail BATF urging them to adopt the proposed regulations to clarify warning labels on alcohol beverages. Specifically comment on the following questions proposed by the BATF: Are consumers aware that the health warning statement must appear on the labels of all alcohol beverages sold in the U.S.? Do consumers look for the warning statement on alcoholic beverage containers? Do consumers notice the health warning statement on alcoholic beverage containers? Do consumers read the warning statement on alcoholic beverage containers? Are consumers familiar with the information contained in the alcohol health warning statement? Do consumers find the warning statement on alcohol beverage difficult to read? Do consumers have examples of alcoholic beverages where the warning statements is legible and noticeable? What makes the warning statement legible and noticeable? Do consumers believe the regulations need to be amended to make the warning statement more legible? What would be the cost associated with adopting any or all of the changes recommended by the petitioners, to the industry and , ultimately the consumer? Send Your Comments before August 20, 2001 Send Comments via US Mail: Chief, Regulations Division Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms P.O. Box 50221 Washington, DC 20091-0221 Send Comments via Fax: 202/927-8602 Send comments via email: nprm@atfhq.atf.treas.gov For more information: Contact the Public Policy Office See BATF Notice No. 917

National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

244 East 58th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022 phone: 212/269-7797   fax: 212/269-7510 email: national@ncadd.org   http://www.ncadd.org HOPE LINE: 800/NCA-CALL (24-hour Affiliate referral)