WI Victory over CSPI

Wines & Vines, Feb, 2003

* After a two-year battle led by Wine Institute (WI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) rejected a petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) to require more prominent government warnings on alcoholic beverages.

In 2001, BATF notice 917 asked for comments on CSPI's proposed changes to the already existing warnings. If approved, warning labels would have been required to be printed in red or black type on a white background surrounded by a lined border, bear a red triangular icon with an exclamation mark inside, have "Government Warning" in type 15% larger than the text and be positioned in a "prominent place on the front of the container in a horizontal position."

CSPI's petition was based on surveys which they claimed indicated that consumers were unaware of or misunderstood current required warnings. WI retained the services of Dr. Steven Nowlis, an expert on market research, consumer behavior, survey research and marketing management. Nowlis studied CSPI's methodology and results, and in a lengthy report concluded, "Overall, I find strong evidence in the survey results that in fact consumers are aware of and familiar with the health warning statement, and find it easy to read and notice."

In Sept., 2001, WI included Nowlis' report with its definitive response to the proposed changes. In addition, BATF received more than 900 public comments opposing the changes.

On Dec. 5, 2002, BATF issued a brief statement which concluded, "ATF has determined that an amendment to the (current) health warning statement regulations is unwarranted and unnecessary." Package designers and wineries may now exhale.