[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Nam Insoon: "Non-alcoholic beverages labeled '0.0%' also contain alcohol... Zero post-market inspections in two years"

"No Standards for '0.0%' or 'Zero' Labels"

Amid unclear standards for labeling the alcohol content of non-alcoholic beverages, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety did not conduct a single post-market inspection of related products in 2024 or 2025. Critics say labels such as “0.0%,” which give the impression that a product contains no alcohol, are also used on products that do contain alcohol, and that the rules need to be improved to reduce consumer confusion.

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According to data submitted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to Nam Insoon, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 14th, alcohol-free and non-alcoholic beverages are classified as general food products and are not subject to a separate pre-market inspection or verification system. The Ministry also did not conduct post-market inspections in 2024 or 2025.

The current “Standards for Labeling of Food, etc.” do not set specific rules for numerical labels such as “0.0%” or “0.00%,” or for the term “zero.” Nam said that products containing small amounts of alcohol could be mistaken by consumers for alcohol-free beverages because products with an alcohol content of less than 1% may be labeled “non-alcoholic” and the like.

In fact, a 2023 inspection by the Ministry detected alcohol in all five products whose names included “0.0.” The alcohol content was 0.152% in “Bel Normandie Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rose Apple,” 0.113% in “Hoegaarden Fruit Brew Rose 0.0,” and 0.100% in “Tsingtao Non-Alcoholic Lemon.” Alcohol was also detected in “Hoegaarden 0.0” and “Cass 0.0,” at 0.040% and 0.025%, respectively.

Critics also say the labeling standards for disclosing alcohol content are inadequate. Current rules require the phrase “Contains less than 1% ethanol; for adults” to be displayed in a color that contrasts with the background and in the same size as the “non-alcoholic” label, but they do not specify a minimum font size or where the phrase must appear. This allows “0.0” and similar labels to be displayed prominently on the front of a product, while the phrase disclosing its alcohol content can be printed in small type on the side or back.

Labeling standards also differ from those overseas. According to Nam, in the United States, malt beverages must contain no alcohol at all to be labeled “0.0%,” while the term “non-alcoholic” is permitted for products with an alcohol content below 0.5%. The European Union (EU) also set the standard for labeling wine “0.0%” at an alcohol content of 0.05% or less in regulations revised in 2026.

The lack of a clear legal basis for restricting the sale of non-alcoholic beverages to minors is also cited as a problem. Beverages with an alcohol content below 1% are not classified as alcoholic beverages under the Liquor Tax Act and are therefore regulated as general food products. There are also no separate standards for warning labels for pregnant women.

“Leaving pre-market verification to companies, allowing labels that cause consumer confusion to go unchecked, and failing to conduct post-market verification as well is a clear dereliction of the duty to protect consumers,” Nam said. “Labeling policies should shift toward protecting consumers rather than accommodating liquor companies.”

Nam also urged the Ministry to review changing the term “non-alcoholic,” establish standards for numerical and “zero” labels, set minimum font sizes and placement rules for statements disclosing alcohol content, introduce rules governing sales to minors, and consider introducing warning labels for pregnant women.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.