FTC Says Alcohol Type Not Aimed at Minors

The Federal Trade Commission said it has determined that sweetened alcoholic beverages, such as Smirnoff Ice and Mike’s Hard Lemonade, aren’t being marketed to minors.

The FTC investigation followed a request by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The consumer group alleged that shoppers easily mistake the beverages, found in stores beside orange juice and sports drinks, for nonalcoholic drinks.

FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Director Howard Beales said better labels are needed to disclose alcohol content. Some labels are unclear, and others don’t disclose the alcohol content at all, he said. Beales said he’ll press his arguments with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.