Sir, - I was pleasantly surprised by David Grant's letter (August 10th) calling for mandatory ingredient labelling on alcoholic beverages. As a producer of natural ales, stouts and lagers, the issue is of obvious concern to us. However, whenever we raise this issue, we are accused of having an axe to grind. The responsibility for the continued absence of ingredient labelling on alcoholic beverages rests with all levels of the marketplace.
Firstly, it rests with the producer. The use of additives represents an effort by the large brewers to produce a more consistent, cheaper product with longer shelflife (thus lowering the cost of distribution). Large brewers argue that beer is an inherently safe product that has never killed anyone directly (unlike dairy, meat or poultry products, for example). They also argue that if they were to list all of the ingredients, the average consumer would merely be confused and wouldn't understand what all of them are. Maybe they're more afraid of the massive public relations campaign they would have to launch to maintain their market share in the presence of mandatory ingredient labelling.
Secondly, responsibility rests with the Government. In the absence of regulatory legislation to force the issue, producers will continue to dodge it. Lastly, and perhaps most sadly, a good portion of the responsibility rests with the consumer. Joe and Patricia Punter continue to encourage the large beer producer in their ways. Unless consumers speak with their money, producers will resist change. The average consumer thinks ingredient labelling is a non-issue. I frequently hear remarks like, "I'e been drinking Brand X all me life and I've never been sick a day!" In response to that, let me relate a story. In Canada during the 1960s, a brewery erroneously added too much of an allowed foam enhancer called cobalt sulphate. A dozen people died of a mysterious heart ailment (all chronic drinkers) but there was no conclusive proof that the beer was to blame. Nonetheless, the brewery closed and the additive is no longer allowed in any quantity. Draw your own conclusions.
I would encourage consumers to press their political representatives for change and to try to wake the sleeping giants in the beer industry. Speak with the money you spend by spending it on an alternative to their products - or even brew your own. If we all did this today, we'd probably see voluntary ingredient labelling some time next week. Incidentally, there is another industry which also avoids ingredient labelling: tobacco. - Yours, etc.,
Liam Mckenna,
Head Brewer,
Dublin Brewing Company,
North King Street,
Dublin 7.