ABV listed on the bottle/can. Yay/Nay?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Chrixsus, Jul 25, 2013.

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Should the ABV of a beer be required to be listed on the bottle/can by law?

  1. Yes

    291 vote(s)
    90.9%
  2. No

    29 vote(s)
    9.1%
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  1. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    This might be true. But I can tell you that my BAL after drinking a pint of 10% beer is likely to be about twice what it would be after drinking a pint of 5% beer.
     
    kemoarps and Chrixsus like this.
  2. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    If a brewery refused to comply, the BATFE would absolutely use violence and coercion against them. I would hate to see that poor fool get a dui too. I'm not promoting chaos, I jst believe there are other ways to deal with these issues besides getting 50% +1 to agree with you and then using guys with guns and matching costumes to "persuade" the rest.
     
    mntlover likes this.
  3. regularjohn

    regularjohn Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2013 New Jersey


    i got a 64oz growler of that recently, holy delicious. need moreeeeeeeeeee :grinning:
     
    KS1297 likes this.
  4. beveritt

    beveritt Maven (1,479) Apr 6, 2006 Ohio

    I would like to see ABV on labels, but agree with the previously mentioned sentiment that the last thing we need is a new law.
     
    steveh and KS1297 like this.
  5. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Besides, isn't this already legally required? I can't think of the last bottle or can of beer I've had that didn't list this info. It's listed for beer on tap as well. I have to believe this isn't because everyone just mutually agreed to do it.
     
    kemoarps likes this.
  6. teal

    teal Initiate (0) May 3, 2012 Wisconsin

    Doesn't really matter though does it?

    Unless you test your BAL before driving - you don't know if you're over the limit. You might feel different after drinking 2 10% beers than you would drinking 3 5% beers but you don't KNOW that you're not over the limit on those 5% pints.

    I'm sure you "know" that a 10% beer is more likely to put you over the limit than a 5% but that doesn't change the fact that you're still determining your fitness behind the wheel by "feel" and not tested data.

    In the end - ABV on the can/bottle doesn't really give you any definitive answer on your fitness to drive/operate machinery/take care of infants.

    I'm just saying that the idea of ABV on a can/bottle's label somehow would keep people off the road because then they'd know they're not supposed to be driving is a reach.
     
  7. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,628) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    No kidding, that law that says I can't make a 3 year old kid work in a factory is bogus!
     
  8. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    3-year-olds are notoriously unproductive anyway.
     
    kemoarps, LaneMeyer, beerinNV and 3 others like this.
  9. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,628) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yes.. I can't understand why someone wouldn't want this. ABV helps you better infer how many you can drink without being past your limit and how many calories you're consuming. It's two digits buried on a out-of-the-way portion of the bottle, why wouldn't anyone want this?
     
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  10. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,628) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    They run circle around those 18-month-olds though. Don't get me started on how I can't work those kids in my factories either....
     
    kemoarps likes this.
  11. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    I do not by any of the arguments that people need to know the abv of their beer so they know how much to drink. I am sorry, we are adults and we all know when we are getting buzzed. If you must take up this argument, please include mixed drinks at the bar. No one know exactly how much alcohol is in their Old Fashioned or Manhattan but they are still expected to be responsible and know how much is too much.

    I am all for the inclusion if the brewery chooses but further mandates, regulations and government involvement does not benefit anyone.
     
    lpotter likes this.
  12. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    Hence no need for such a law. If an employer finds more economic value in a three year old than all of the unemployed adults out there, it's going to take a hell of a lot more than a child labor law to prevent society from collapsing at that point.
     
    beveritt likes this.
  13. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Well I for one have deliberately avoided buying a certain beer specifically because I saw its ABV listed on the menu/beer list and I knew I would have to be driving within X amount of time. Maybe I didn't know that it would put me over the limit, but I knew that it increased the chances of getting me more buzzed than I wanted to be under the circumstances.

    I understand (vaguely) the knee-jerk reaction against more laws and regulations, but I guess I don't see why people are opposed to having more information at their disposal to make responsible decisions.
     
  14. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    You're right. Pure, unfettered market forces are really all we need. There really isn't any evidence out there to contradict that.
     
  15. VictorWisc

    VictorWisc Maven (1,355) Jan 2, 2013 Massachusetts

    Yeah... if they don't do their homework, that's a good reason to put as much info as possible on the label.

    Just looked at all four beers from Victory mixed 12. Pils and PA don't list ABV. Hop Devil (6.7%) and Golden Monkey (9.5%) do. This is just weird to me. And the two listings are in very different places. And I had a few other beers recently that don't put it on the label or put it in all sorts of places. Contrast that with some odd-looking Lithuanian brand (they make Lobster Beer and Werewolf). When I saw it in the store, all the bottles had neck-hangers on them, advertising their ABV--8.2%, 9.6% and 12%. The English on the labels was pretty sloppy, so perhaps it was some cultural thing that high-ABV was a marketing point (kind of like Colt-45 and other 1970s "malt liquors").

    So let me modify the OP question--should all beer labels list ABV or just ones over "sessionable" range?
     
  16. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan

    I am not against more information at all. Any information, used responsibly, is a great thing. What I am opposed to are those who throw out the need for mandates and regulations without thinking about what is involved with them. I am all for mandates and regulations that are necessary to protect but those that are put in place merely for convenience are always going to be questioned by me.
     
    KS1297 likes this.
  17. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Calories? No. ABV? I lean towards yes. It's literally a few extra characters on the label, and I really can't think of any valid arguements as to why the ABV shouldn't be listed.
     
    ThePaintedGrey, Chrixsus and Orca like this.
  18. Providence

    Providence Pooh-Bah (2,628) Feb 24, 2010 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Sure, people know when they are getting buzzed and should stop when they have had too much, I agree. But it's still nice to know what you're getting into. I'd hate to grab six pack of something that I planned on sessioning during a cookout only to find I am hammered after two beers. I would have to stop at that point and I'd be bummed, because I was hoping to enjoy several brews throughout the course of the day.

    Also, I believe alcohol content is listed on liquor bottles, so one could inquire what the ABV of their mixed drink was, if they wanted to (although the bar tender would have to probably do some quick math if there were multiples liquors mixed together. Nevertheless, the option is still there).
     
    Orca likes this.
  19. kzoobrew

    kzoobrew Initiate (0) May 8, 2006 Michigan


    I agree with much of what you say. I agree that it is nice to have the information but when we are talking mandates and regulations we should be talking about things that are a little more than a convenience.

    Liquor does list ABV on the bottle, and someone could certainly ask if they were concerned. Along the same lines a consumer consumer could, and should, do their due diligence to find the information regarding ABV on beer when it is unknown as well.
     
  20. mmmbirra

    mmmbirra Initiate (0) Apr 19, 2009 Italy

    I, for one, like having that information. It's certainly a piece of information every brewery already has. Just stamp it on the label and be done with it.
     
    Chrixsus and Orca like this.
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