Calls for health warnings on drinks labels
Leading health experts are demanding that all beers, spirits and wines carry health warnings in a bid to cut cases of cirrhosis of the liver.
Medical experts want the government to force drinks manufacturers to include information on labels giving the number of units of alcohol in bottles and cans.
But the trade fears the changes could be costly in terms of re-designing packaging. It wants to continue with the existing voluntary code on labelling.
This comes after figures published last year showed a sharp rise in the number of people developing cirrhosis, which is linked to excessive drinking.
At a British Medical Association conference of public health doctors last week, experts said that health warnings could help to tackle the problem.
They want clear labelling containing information on the number of units in a typical measure, the recommended weekly limits and the dangers linked to over-consumption.
Earlier this year, campaigners including charity Alcohol Concern called for the mandatory labelling on beer cans and wine and spirit bottles. Now that health experts have agreed, it is feared that the proposal is one step closer to reality.
But the drinks industry has said that it is opposed to mandatory labelling because it claims self-regulation is sufficient.
Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "This is an impractical and implausible suggestion particularly given the raft of medical evidence showing that moderate consumption of alcohol is actually beneficial to your health."
Related articles:
Publicans and barstaff most at risk from liver disease (1 March 2002)
Alcohol health warnings proposed in fight against binge drinking (13 December 2001)
