Drink advice labels to appear by end of 2008
Drinks producers are to list three pieces of sensible drinking advice on labels by the end of 2008 under a new voluntary agreement with Government.
Government is also "encouraging" drinks firms to include advice about not drinking when pregnant.
Last week the Department of Health changed its advice to pregnant women, saying they should avoid alcohol completely.
By the end of 2008, labels will include:The drink's unit content and the Government's recommended daily safe drinking guidelinesThe website www.drinkaware.co.uk offering a sensible drinking messageFor beer, wine and spirits, unit information will be given per glass and bottle.
This agreement will not mean a major changes for the largest drinks producers that already include sensible drinking messages and unit information on labels.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Under the terms of the agreement, it is recognised that it may take individual companies differing times to change their labels to bring them in line with the agreed format."
Wine and Spirit Trade Association chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "The important thing is this is a voluntary agreement. The Government recognises that there are small-volume producers for whom this isn't suitable if they are coming into the UK market."
Beadles said there are "on-going discussions" about the prospect of pregnancy advice, which Government said could in the form of the French logo showing a pregnant woman drinking.
A Diageo spokeswoman said: "We are in detailed discussions with the Department of Health and others within the industry on what role we can play in assisting the communication of the new advice on alcohol and pregnancy, including consideration of the role of labeling."
A Scottish & Newcastle UK spokesman said the brewer "will now take the opportunity to look at this area in more detail and consider the feasibility of adopting the French-style FAS pictogram, which is being used increasingly across Europe."
Health minister Caroline Flint said: "I would like to pay tribute to the drinks industry for their commitment to promoting a responsible drinking culture.
We will continue to work closely with them on the voluntary introduction of this new labeling information and with them will monitor the effect of the agreement on peoples drinking habits."
