Good practice principles low rik drinking EU RARHA

warning in relation to consuming alcohol in pregnancy, and details of a website that will provide public
health information in relation to alcohol consumption. j This legislation is currently awaiting enactment.
In the United States, health warnings have been required on alcoholic beverage containers since
1989. The US Government warning highlights the risks of drinking and driving, operating machinery
and drinking while pregnant and other general health risks.[ 32 ] Evaluations of mandatory health
warnings on alcoholic beverages have found some evidence of a shift in knowledge, awareness and
attitudes, but minimal impact in reducing alcohol consumption [ 32 , 33 , 34 ] However, most of the studies of
effectiveness are based on the US warning label, which is fixed rather than rotating, text-based and in
small print. It has been pointed out that the design, which has not changed since 1989, is not fit for
purpose [ 32 , 33 ]
It is likely that providing health related information on alcoholic beverage labels as a standalone
policy measure, even with a warning about health or safety risks, would be of limited use in reducing
alcohol consumption. There is considerable agreement, however, that health labelling policy has the
potential to change behaviour if carried out as part of a comprehensive range of public health measures
and if health or safety warnings are rotating, graphic, highly visible, of sufficient size, and placed on the
front of containers.[ 30 , 32 , 33 , 35 ]
Call for adequate consumer information on alcoholic beverage
packages
There is wide support for providing health related information, including warnings about health and
safety risks on alcoholic beverage containers. According to a Eurobarometer study in 2007, 77% of EU
citizens favoured the introduction of warnings aimed at pregnant women and drivers on both alcohol
bottles and alcohol advertisements.[ 36 ]. The online consumer survey conducted by Eurocare in 2015
indicated that the majority of consumers in all age groups would welcome more health related
information on alcoholic beverage packages. [ 6 ] (Graph 4)
Graph 4. Consumer views on the adequacy of health related information on alcoholic beverage
packages, by age group. [ 6 ]
Do alcoholic beverage labels currently provide sufficient health related
information? Answers by age range.
In the RARHA Delphi survey, public health and addiction experts considered the calorie content as the
most useful type of information to be provided to consumers on alcoholic beverage packages, followed
by information on any additives – such as preservatives or colouring products – as well as the amount of
sugar in the beverage or the use of artificial sweeteners. There was wide support among the Delphi
expert panel for requiring by law across EU countries messages about health or safety risks on both
alcoholic beverage packages and on alcohol advertisements.[ 7 ] (Graph 5)
j
The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015.
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Good practice principles for low risk drinking guidelines