Alcohol health warning labels must be clearer and tougher
AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said today that health warning labels on alcohol must be clearer and tougher about the health effects of excessive or irresponsible drinking and must be accompanied by a crackdown on the marketing and advertising of alcohol, especially to teenagers.
Dr Hambleton said that warning labels are necessary on alcohol products, especially in relation to teenage drinking and drinking when pregnant, but they would not be effective unless they were more specific about the range and severity of health problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
“The labels introduced voluntarily by the industry do not go far enough,” Dr Hambleton said.
“The AMA is keen to see the Government’s responses to the recommendations of the Blewett review of labelling law and policy, which will hopefully provide a stronger direction for the industry to follow.
“The alcohol industry must make a full and genuine commitment to reducing alcohol-related harms to teenagers and young people by ceasing the targeted marketing of alcohol to teenagers and sponsorship of sporting and youth cultural events.
“Warning labels alone are not a strong enough deterrent for underage teenage drinkers. Steps must be taken to stop them from picking up the bottle or the can in the first place.
“It is inconsistent and counterproductive for the industry to warn teenagers about the harms of alcohol use while still encouraging them to purchase alcohol through sophisticated lifestyle advertising and clever marketing,” Dr Hambleton said.
12 July 2011
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