The California Assembly has approved a bill that would require sweetened alcoholic drinks like Mike's Hard Lemonade to carry warning labels. Supporters say the measure is needed because these so-called "alcopops" are packaged to look like soft drinks. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
Flavored alcoholic beverages like Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade resemble sodas or juice squeezes. In fact, they're made with a combination of malt liquor and distilled spirits.
The Assembly bill would require alcopops to carry a label saying "Attention: Contains Alcohol."
San Diego Assemblywoman Lori Saldana co-wrote the bill. She says the label will clear up any confusion.
Saldana : It will simply advise purchasers that something that may look like a soda pop, in fact contains six, seven, sometimes over ten percent alcohol.
The labeling measure cleared the Assembly with the help of a number of Republican votes. Saldana thinks that bodes well for its passage in the Senate.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
