(Freep) - The food and beverage industry is no stranger to dubious marketing claims. Every brand from Kellogg’s to Red Bull has been the subject of controversy over the supposed health benefits of their products.

Some of these claims—such as POM Wonderful’s assertion that pomegranate juice can stave off cancer, heart disease, and erectile dysfunction—have drawn cease-and-desist orders from federal regulators, while others continue unchallenged.

The whole point of regulating these marketing claims is to promote consumer awareness and prevent false advertising. It’s the same idea that inspired the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which mandates nutrition labeling on most food products, and ensures that health claims meet standards set by the FDA.

Since the law was passed, food products have been subject to strict regulation, and some offenders have been hit with multi-million-dollar lawsuits.

But one category is completely exempt from these requirements: alcohol. Why? Calories from alcohol are empty calories, and alcohol itself—when abused—is the source of innumerable health problems. Shouldn’t beer, wine, and liquor be subject to at least the same labeling requirements as pomegranate juice?