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Results of the FY 2009 Alcohol Beverage Sampling Program for Malt Beverages
Label Compliance
- We estimate that 90 percent (±4 percent) of all malt beverage labels in the marketplace are in compliance with Federal alcohol beverage laws and regulations.
Findings:
- Reasons for non-compliance in our sample included:
- No approved COLA.
- Additional labels appeared on the container (other than those included on the approved COLA).
- Additional information appeared on the bottle or cap that did not appear on the approved COLA.
Content Compliance
- We estimate that 92 percent (±4 percent) of malt beverage products in the marketplace are in compliance with Federal alcohol beverage laws and regulations for malt beverages.
Findings:
- Reasons for non-compliance in our sample included:
- Containers were under-filled.
- Containers were over-filled.
- Actual alcohol content was less than that stated on the label.
- Actual alcohol content was more than that stated on the label.
- Actual calories did not match what was stated on the label.
Overall Findings
- We found no significant difference in labeling and content compliance rates for domestic and imported products.
- The overall marketplace compliance rate for malt beverage labels together with the compliance rate for content is 85 percent ± 5 percent.
Results of the FY 2009 Alcohol Beverage Advertising Program
- We estimate the compliance rate for all malt beverage advertisements with Federal alcohol beverage advertising laws and regulations is 73 percent ± 4 percent.
Findings:
- Advertising on the internet and radio appear to have the most compliance issues while TV ads appear to be the most compliant.
- The top four reasons for non-compliance in our malt beverage advertising sample were:
- Mandatory information related to the responsible advertiser was missing (37 percent of all non-compliant ads)
- Prohibited claims regarding the alcohol content (strength claims) appeared (30 percent of all non-compliant ads)
- Mandatory class designation information was missing (22 percent of all non-compliant ads)
- Calorie or carbohydrate claims appeared without the required Statement of Average Analysis (12 percent of all non-compliant ads)
- Of all the non-compliant ads 18 percent were non-compliant for more than one reason.
- The most common reasons for non-compliance by media type:
Media Type |
Reason |
Percentage of Non-compliant Ads |
Internet |
Prohibited strength claims |
45% |
Outdoor |
Missing Info - Responsible Advertiser |
86% |
Print |
Missing Info - Responsible Advertiser |
80% |
Missing - Class Designation |
80% |
Radio |
Missing Info - Responsible Advertiser |
100% |
TV |
Missing - Class Designation |
60% |
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