alcohol beverages generally

In recent weeks, TTB has implemented sweeping changes, with little attention from the media. Some of the changes are for the better, but many will make it substantially harder for beverage producers and importers to get things done. These changes will affect companies and products as profoundly as any other changes at this agency over the past few decades, no less than other big changes such as tax rates, the shift from ATF to TTB, the Part 13 revocation rules, the demise of caffeine alcohol beverages, or new Administrators. It is difficult to think of any law change or policy change with as much day-to-day impact on the regulated parties, and much of this was done with no opportunity for meaningful industry input.

1. The big changes begin way back in 2003, with the launch of COLAs Online, and pick up speed in the past year. Much of the change brought by COLAs Online is for the better. The system works well and frequently makes things faster and easier.
2. In late 2009, TTB slashed their availability for in-person visits. For many prior years or decades, it was relatively easy to meet with a regulator, in the labeling and formula division, any weekday from 10-noon or 1-3 (four hours a day). Beginning about...

If you like your warnings big and graphic, you will love the alcohol beverage warnings under consideration in Thailand. The Wall Street Journal of September 17, 2010 shows the photo above, as an example of one of the warnings under consideration.

If you think it can’t happen here, take a look at this tobacco website which explains: “New legislation passed in June 2009 requires pictorial health warnings on 50% of the front and back of US cigarette packages within 24 months, in addition to a 15 month implementation window.” At least 13 countries already require graphical warnings to cover more than 50% of the cigarette pack. At least 38 countries have finalized requirements for picture warnings.  The Wall Street Journal article explains:

Alcohol companies world-wide are lining up to fight a Thai plan to require graphic warning labels about alcohol on the country’s domestic and imported beer, wine and liquor bottles.

The proposed labels—which would cover 30% of the bottles’ surface area—include unusually explicit warnings about risks associated with alcohol use. One picture shows a shirtless man grasping a woman by the hair and raising his fist to hit her, accompanied by the words, “Alcohol consumption could harm yourself, children and family.”

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TTB had a fascinating tidbit in the September 3, 2010 TTB Newsletter. It tends to say that nutrition information will be attaching to beer, wine and spirits a lot sooner than most people expected. Not so much on labels (yet), but on menus, wine lists and similar postings at on-premise retailers. This seems like a huge and important development, courtesy of President Obama, Congress and FDA (rather than TTB). It therefore seems odd that there is not much outcry; the submitted comments do not show much awareness from the alcohol beverage industry. The Washington Post suggests that the connection among the health care legislation, menu labeling and alcohol beverages caught most people by surprise. TTB summarized the initiative succinctly:

On March 23, 2010, the President signed the health care reform legislation into law. Section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 requires restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 or more locations to list calorie content information for standard menu items on restaurant menus and menu boards, including drive-through menu boards. Other nutrient information – total calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, sugars, fiber and total protein – would have to be made available in writing upon request.

The FDA Questions and Answers in B, Covered Food, Question 2,...