To: All brewers, sellers of beer, supermarkets

Fish derived gelatin in beer

Make it a legal requirement to label beer that uses animal products, such as gelatin derived from fish bladders.

Why is this important?

Many brewers use isinglass, a gelatin made from dried fish bladders, to speed up the fining of their beer. Unfortunately most do not reveal this. They are not required by law to do so. If you are vegan or vegetarian, these beers are not suitable for you. But finding this out is often difficult, or next to impossible. Faced with a choice at a crowded bar, unless the owners are considering this and label them on their chalk boards, and most don't, the situation can get impossible. The bar tender can usually at best try and search on line, only to come up against the same wall and offer their apologies. Is this acceptable? Every other food or drink product has to make its ingredients clear. Alcohol should be no exception.

Do you know your beer has been fined down with fish bladders? If you didn't want to accept this, how could you make your choice when the brewers choose not to tell you?