The Royal Society for Public Health which is dedicated to the public’s health and wellbeing is calling for a change in the way alcoholic drinks are labelled. The RSPH claims that there is an “awareness vacuum” on how alcohol affects health and wants to see alcohol producers include the government’s guideline of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week on their labels.
The RSPH also suggests having a drink-drive warning on labelling and that the use of a traffic light colour coding system (similar to those used on many food items on UK shelves) could help drinkers be more aware of the effects of alcohol and help them to make better choices when it comes to their drinking habits.
But John Timothy, from the Portman Group, the responsibility body for drinks producers in the UK disagreed with the RSPH’s findings, saying:
“There was little public interest in a radical overhaul of drinks labelling and strong opposition to cramming more information on packs”.
Mr Timothy reiterated that the Portman Group continually updates its advice to alcohol producers so that consumers are given accurate, accessible health information.
What do you think?
Do you feel that alcohol should have a traffic light system like food products, should the government take a harder stance and ban branding on alcohol like they do to tobacco or are alcohol labels fine the way they are?
Let us know in the comments below.