FDA issues guidelines for selling alcohol-spiked beverages amid booze emergence

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday issued guidelines for selling beverages with alcohol content amid the emergence of “alcopops.”

The new guidelines were detailed in FDA FDA Circular NO. 2019-006, or the “Guidelines in Commercial Display, Selling, Promotion, and Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages and Beverages that Contain Alcohol.”

The guidelines were issued amid discussions on the emergence of alcopops or flavored beverages with alcohol content.

“Food packaging technology and market innovation concerning stand-up pouch, flexible, tetra pack and similar packaging materials are now evolving in both the international and local market,” the FDA said.

The FDA said the guidelines are as follows:

All alcoholic beverages, regardless of the type of packaging, shall only be displayed in a designated conspicuous area in all convenience stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, groceries and other food retailing stores with prominent signage “ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.”

Other beverages with alcohol regardless of the level of alcohol content like alcopop (flavored beverage with alcohol content) shall likewise be displayed in this same designated area. These beverages shall not be displayed together with other products like juice drinks and MUST NOT be accessible to children.

Owners or operators of sari-sari stores which may not have enough space to designate an area for alcoholic beverages and other beverages with alcohol content shall be responsible to ensure that subject beverages as mentioned in Item no. 2 above are not sold to minors (below 18 years old).

Promotional and advertising materials on alcoholic beverages and beverages with alcohol content (regardless of amount) shall clearly state or inform consumers that such beverages contain alcohol, and therefore not to be promoted and advertised to be sold to and consumed by minors. Packaging and labeling materials shall not be appealing to children.

The FDA said violators would be subject to sanctions and penalties, as they urged local government units (LGUs) to monitor sari-sari stores, convenience stores, groceries, hypermarkets, supermarkets and other similar food retailing stores under their jurisdiction.

During a hearing of the Senate committee on ways and means in August, Senator Pia Cayetano, who chairs the panel, said that alcopops could be mistaken as a harmless drink due to its “very colorful” packaging that may attract children.

Some products are reportedly placed beside juice drinks despite their alcohol content. /ac

READ: Cayetano wants alcopops out of store shelves, repackaged