Wine?s Health Benefits Won?t Be Printed On Label

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms enforces mandatory warning labels of health risks and alcohol abuse on wine, yet it will not allow labels stating the documented benefits of moderate wine consumption.

The federal government’s own Dietary Guidelines for Americans states, “Drinking in moderation may lower the risk for coronary heart disease, mainly among men over age 45 and women over age 55.”

California wine makers have tried unsuccessfully to get that put on their labels.

Justin R. Morris, professor of food science at the University of Arkansas, said the warning labels didn’t have the impact on wine sales people thought it would, and he doesn’t believe a label listing the benefits would either.

“Why? Because society, particularly society now that is consuming wine, is rather well educated,” Morris said. “They are more or less aware of these studies and also equally aware of protecting their health. They worry about things like coronary diseases. They’re not going to abuse it.”

Kent Starr is owner of Liquor World in Fayetteville, which has one of the state’s largest wine selections. He is also not concerned with the lack of a label change.

“If [the labels] were further publicized they may give validity to the studies,” Starr said, “but I don’t think it would change our sales much. We do get a lot of people coming in with various types of health-related problems, and some doctors have recommended a glass of wine a day. Moderation is the key … one to two glasses per day.

“I have to be a little careful what I say on this issue because I’m not a physician.”

Starr said Liquor World’s wine sales account for about 40 percent of his store’s sales, a higher percentage than most stores. Some, he said, have as much as 70 to 80 percent in beer sales alone.