Calls for calorie counts on pub beer taps: Shadow minister Liz Kendall says alcohol needs to have nutritional information displayed on bars display to help drinkers look after their health

• The idea was floated by the government in 2021 but later dropped over costs
• Industry leaders condemned the idea at a time when the high street is struggling

A Labour frontbencher was criticised today after suggesting beer pumps should display the number of calories in a pint. 

Shadow social care minister Liz Kendall said the nutritional value of alcoholic drinks was a ‘big issue’.

Speaking to the BBC she said that giving the information to drinkers would allow them to make decisions about what and how much they drink for themselves and avoid more drastic measures from politicians.

But industry leaders condemned the idea at a time when the high street is already struggling with a stagnant economy.

The idea was floated by the Tory government in 2021, with health chiefs wanting to force larger chains to disclose the amount of calories for every beer, wine and spirit ordered in their bars.

But it was later dropped over cost fears and worries that vulnerable people may switch to drinks that were lower in calories but higher in alcohol content.  

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality, told MailOnline: ‘At this point in time, there would be considerable costs involved for the pubs to be able to implement it. Now is not the time to be taking this matter forward.

Shadow social care minister Liz Kendall said the nutritional value of alcoholic drinks was a ‘big issue’.

‘We are reliant, as pubs, bars and restaurants, on suppliers providing us with the information in the first place. If there is more information that can be provided we are all in favour of helping to promote transparency and clarity, but putting a requirement on pubs at this point in time to have calorie labelling on menus or pumps would be disproportionate.’

Speaking to BBC News’ Newscast podcast last night, Ms Kendall, a former leadership challenger, said: ‘I’d like to know how many calories there are in alcohol. That’s another really big issue.’

When asked if this included calorie counts in pubs, including on pumps, she said: ‘I think we need to look across the board at all of this, to see what it is that we’re consuming, so that people have got the knowledge and the information to do that, I really do. 

‘Because in the end, I’m not going to tell people what to do. You’ve got to give them the power and the knowledge to make the changes that they – for themselves. But also, the ability to do that.’

A pint of Guinness contains 210 calories — roughly the same as a KitKat Chunky. A large glass of white wine is slightly more calorific (240) — the same as a packet of Starburst sweets.

Punters may be surprised to know that a single Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum and Coke has the equivalent of three McNuggets’ worth of calories (140), while a pint of Stella Artois comes in at 230 calories, the same as a slice of pepperoni pizza. 

A large 250ml glass of red wine is usually around the 230 calorie mark, the same as a standard 51g Mars Bar, closely followed by a single gin and tonic (220), which is as calorific as a Cornetto ice cream. A glass of prosecco, one of the lighter drinks on the menu, comes in at 90 calories, roughly the same as a packet of Fruit Pastilles.

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