Do you "really" read all that STUFF on the labels??

I know that you read all that very important information on the side of the cereal box that tells you about how good or bad this food will be for you and your family. If that were true we would all be eating oatmeal and there would be a lot less confusion on the cereal isle.

Well hang on to your corkscrew because the Feds are bored and looking for some more citizens to annoy and the wine industry is next. Some of the interest in mandatory labeling for alcoholic beverages stems from the ongoing U.S. weight and obesity concerns according to the Trade and Tax Bureau which is the federal agency responsible for this proposal.

Several of the wineries contacted about this idea have some opinions. "I haven't read too much about this yet, but my initial reaction is that it would be interesting to see the carbohydrate content of wine. I do foresee the labels becoming more cumbersome," said Chris Luby, head winemaker at Cherry Hill Vineyards in Rickreall. Eric Rogers, business manager for Eola Hills Winery, also in Rickreall, is convinced the labels will cost more money. He's also aggravated by the government's insistence on regulating and controlling every aspect of his business.

According to their literature, small containers (50 ml) would be exempt from the "Serving Facts" panel requirement, but would be required to disclose the information in linear fashion.There are other potential exemptions. In the past the TTB has waived labeling requirements for very small businesses that can demonstrate a tiny market share. Overall, however, the Oregon wine industry is going to have to apply its collective creativity to packing more information into already cramped real estate.

When the proposed labeling changes do become final, the TTB will allow a three-year period for the companies to comply with the regulation. That will allow for all labels in stock to be expended and new ones with the information required phased in.

The general opinion about this is reflected in these thoughts from Eric Rogers, "When you're drinking a bottle of wine you're not too concerned about the nutritional aspects, and there isn't any real variation from one wine to the next. A sweet wine might have a few more calories than a dry wine, but overall there isn't much difference. It seems ridiculous. It's just more government, more government, more government."

You will have your chance to voice your opinion as the TTB is taking the citizen's input until January 27.

Try this address www.ttb.gov I went there and there has to be somewhere you can lodge your opinion, however I didn't find it.