Almost everything we purchase is labeled with an ingredients list, which can give you a basic idea of what is in the product you are buying and maybe even where the product was made. However, this is hardly ever the case with alcoholic beverages. The ingredients in wines and beers is almost always a mystery. On top of that, organic labels can be even more confusing and are less utilized on these products than on food items. So how do you tell if you are making a sustainable purchase?
The first tip is to buy local. Buying local supports small business in the area, which promotes the local economy. It also reduces the amount of energy needed to transport the items and the amount of pollution that a truck or ship would have used transporting the product.
Second, look for organic products. If the bottle isn’t labeled organic on the front, look to the back and search for any indication that the product might be organic. If not, ask! Most wine or liquor stores have staff on hand that are extremely knowledgeable about the products they are selling, and they can probably point you in the right direction.
Lastly, think about the kind of container that your product is stored in. Is it a class bottle, a plastic container, or an aluminum can? Which can be recycled and which can’t? And when you’re done enjoying your beverage, make sure to recycle the container!
This weeks’ #STOTW written by Alyssa Lemire, Class of 2017
Photo provided by Pixabay
