South Africa is grappling with an obesity crisis. Nearly half of adults are overweight or obese. Public discussion often focuses on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks as reasons for weight gain. But there’s another source of calories that’s often overlooked: alcoholic drinks.
Alcohol contains nearly twice as much energy per gram as carbohydrates or protein. Many alcoholic beverages also contain leftover sugars and other carbohydrates that were not fully converted into alcohol during fermentation. These contribute extra calories on top of those supplied by the alcohol itself. In Australia, for example, a 330ml bottle of cider was shown to contain as much as 724kJ of energy. This is more than twice the energy content of the average sugar-sweetened soft drink in South Africa. Drinking may also increase appetite and encourage the consumption of high-calorie foods.
Access to clear and accurate nutritional information helps consumers make informed choices about their diets. This is key, whether they’re managing their weight, reducing sugar intake or living with conditions like diabetes. Nutrition labels are one way to inform those choices.
Most packaged foods are required to have detailed nutrition labels. But alcohol is in a unique regulatory position in South Africa – the rules that apply are mostly under the Liquor Products Act. Manufacturers generally have to disclose their alcohol by volume (ABV) or the percentage of alcohol in the beverage. Information such as calorie content, sugar levels, carbohydrates or ingredients is often not disclosed.
