Adults can surpass their recommended daily sugar limit by consuming just two glasses of wine, according to a new analysis by the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA). The study, which examined 30 popular wines sold in the UK, found that some wines contain more calories than a McDonald's hamburger in just two medium servings.
The AHA criticised alcohol labelling as 'woefully inadequate', noting that none of the products examined displayed sugar content on their labels, despite such information being required for non-alcoholic drinks. Calorie information was only present on 20% of labels. This leaves consumers unaware of the nutritional content, potentially leading to unhealthy choices.
The analysis revealed a wide variation in sugar and calories across red, white, rosé, fruit, and sparkling wines. Government guidelines recommend a maximum of 30g of free sugars per day for adults, but two medium glasses of certain wines can approach that limit. Interestingly, many of the highest-sugar wines had lower alcohol strength, meaning drinkers opting for lower-strength options may inadvertently increase sugar intake.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the AHA, called the exemption of alcohol from standard food labelling rules 'absurd'. He urged the government to publish its long-delayed consultation on alcohol labelling, which has been awaited since 2020. Alison Douglas, chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, added that the alcohol industry has 'dragged their feet' for too long, and that mandatory labelling is needed to inform consumers and reduce alcohol-related harm.
