Scotland: Holyrood to mull cancer warnings on alcohol

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/

Jason Allardyce

November 11 2018

Health warnings similar to those posted on packets of cigarettes could soon be attached to all alcohol sold in Scotland.

Medical experts, who helped to persuade ministers to bring in minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland and a lower drink-driving limit, want labels to highlight the risk of cancer, liver disease, poor mental health and damage to unborn children.

They are advising the Scottish government that it is unacceptable there is “more information on a pint of milk than a can of beer”.

Ireland is set to become the first country in the world to require health warnings, similar to those on cigarette packets, to be placed on all alcoholic cans and bottles.

It follows research from the World Cancer Research Fund, suggesting that only three alcoholic drinks a day can be enough to cause liver cancer.

The Scottish government said it was studying the Irish approach and that clear labelling highlighting the health risks linked to alcohol was “crucial”. Its use has also been linked to mental health problems, ranging from depression and memory loss to self-harm.

Dr Peter Rice, chairman of the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP), said: “The present system for informing consumers is indefensible. The alcohol industry has lobbied, successfully so far, that alcohol products are exempt from the ingredient and nutritional labelling that apply to other products.”

He added that there was more information on ingredients, calories and nutritional value on bottles of alcohol-free beer than on regular beer.

“This has to change and alcohol products need to come into line with other products on the supermarket shelf. The alcohol industry has had very privileged treatment on this issue for a long time now and the time has come for this to end,” he said.

SHAAP says consumers have a right to know the damage that can come from excessive drinking.

After attempts to persuade the industry to take these steps voluntarily failed in the case of most firms, Rice said mandatory labelling is required and SHAAP wants to work with Scottish government with its “well-deserved reputation for tackling alcohol harm” to achieve this.

A number of UK health organisations, including the Royal Society for Public Health, want to see mandatory labelling throughout Britain but if a UK-wide approach is not achievable, SHAAP says this “shouldn’t be a barrier to Scottish consumers getting the information they need”.

But John Timothy, chief executive of the Portman Group industry trade body, said: “There is no justification for alarming health warnings designed to scare the public off alcohol – drinking in moderation and having alcohol free days is the best advice consumers can be given.

“The UK has a robust system of self-regulation and a comprehensive code of practice to ensure products are marketed responsibly.”

The Scottish government said it was watching the progress of the Irish measures “with interest”. A spokeswoman added: “People should be supported to make informed choices about their drinking and have a right to know about the harms associated with alcohol.”