Beer Labelling Regulations

Currently, alcohol labels in the European Union must include the following information:

- The name under which the product is sold

- The net quantity of pre-packaged beverage in metric units

- Indication of the acquired alcoholic strength

- Date of minimum durability ("best before")

- Instructions of use, where appropriate

- Any special conditions for keeping or use

- The name or business name and address of the manufacturer, packager, or importer established in the EU (can be any of these)

EU Regulation 1169/2011 addresses labelling issues by requiring the ingredients to be listed. Unfortunately, it has exempted alcoholic beverages (containing more than 1.2% ABV) from the obligation to provide information to consumers - they do not have to list their ingredients or provide nutritional information.

Beoir and the EBCU wish to see the removal of this exemption so beer consumers can see all ingredients that go in to their beer. We would also like to see precisely where the beer was brewed and by what brewery. Simply saying "Brewed in the EU" is unacceptable from a consumer information point of view.

Many breweries already volunteer the information we want to see, and for this we thank them. We would like to see it made mandatory on a European level though.