Alcohol’s hidden calories: product labels could help fight obesity in South Africa

South Africa is grappling with an obesity crisis. Nearly half of adults are overweight or obese. Public discussion often focuses on ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks as reasons for weight gain. But there’s another source of calories that’s often overlooked: alcoholic drinks. Alcohol contains nearly twice as much energy per gram as carbohydrates or protein. Many alcoholic beverages also contain leftover sugars and other carbohydrates that were not fully converted into alcohol during…