'Make drink health warnings compulsory'
Unit labelling and health warnings should be compulsory on all alcohol packaging — that's the view of the new chief medical advisor at the industry-funded Drinkaware Trust.
Unit info: make it compulsory says Drinkaware
Professor Paul Wallace told today's Westminster Health Forum: "It's an absolute no-brainer. There's no actual evidence that it will change behaviour but I'd like to hear arguments against it."
Nicolay Sorensen, director of policy and communications at Alcohol Concern, agreed, adding that the information and warnings should also be compulsory at point of sale at bars.
"Without making it mandatory I don't think we will see full compliance and we need full compliance."
British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings said 90% of beer bottles and cans already voluntarily include this information.
However, Alison Douglas of the Scottish Government slated the "shockingly poor performance" of the industry in sticking by voluntary labeling, highlighting the result of a recent Department of Health-commissioned report.
The mandatory alcohol retailing code received much support from academics and health campaigners and others at the seminar.
Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance, wanted it to go further to tackle drinks promotions.
"The mandatory code is necessary and must be allowed to tackle deep discounting and bulk purchases," he said.
Hastings and Cathie Smith, director of the BII's training arm BIIAB, argued that the code is unnecessary and an unjustified strain on well-run pubs.
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