Problem is, we all know that one martini or Long Island iced tea contains much more than a standard 1½-ounce pour of liquor and packs a significantly bigger punch than a single beer (which, of course, may come in more than 12 ounces and contain more alcohol than the baseline 5 percent by volume).

But for the sake of this column, let's focus on what you and I care most about: beer.

The federal bureau's proposal would require breweries to include the following information on bottles and cans: alcohol content by volume, and nutritional facts like calories, carbohydrates, fat and protein. (I'd like to see ingredients listed too, but that's not part of the plan.)

Currently, brewers are given the option of whether to put alcohol content on their beer labels (most craft beers proudly display the ABV; light beers don't). And, only "light" beers or ones that make low-calorie claims are required to display nutritional data.

So what's the beef with making labeling rules apply to all breweries, thus allowing their customers to make more informed choices?

Money.