FDA urges LGUs to ‘strictly’ enforce new guidelines for selling alcoholic beverages

The Food and Drug Administration is urging local government units and food retail stores to strictly implement the new guidelines for selling alcoholic beverages, taking into consideration the emergence of alcopop—alcoholic drinks in stand-up pouch packaging.

The regulator issued on Tuesday FDA Circular NO. 2019-006, or the “Guidelines in Commercial Display, Selling, Promotion, and Advertising of Alcoholic Benerages and Beverages that Contain Alcohol.”

“The FDA is enjoining all concerned, including local government units having jurisdiction on sari-sari stores, convenience stores, groceries, hypermarkets, supermarkets, and other similar food retailing stores to strictly implement these guidelines,” the FDA said.

In August, Senator Pia Cayetano was alarmed by the presence of alcopop beside the juice section of convenience stores and groceries.

Cayetano called the attention of the Department of Health and FDA on beverages in “doypacks” or stand-up pouch similar to ordinary juice.

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

For this reason, the FDA sets the following guidelines to protect the consumers, especially children:

• All alcoholic beverages, regardless of type of packaging, shall only be displayed in designated conspicuous areas in all convenience stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, groceries and other food retailing stores with the 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 …  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 circular emphasized.

Sanctions and penalties for violating any provisions of circular 2019-006 are based on the Rules of Republic Act No. 10611 or the Food Safety Act of 2013 and its implementing rules and regulations.

“This circular shall take effect immediately,” FDA said.

The FDA earlier warned retailers against promoting and selling alcoholic drinks to minors in light of reports on the sale of alcopop. —Joviland Rita/VDS, GMA News