Good practice principles low rik drinking EU RARHA

in order to rduce risk of harm, the lack of a common SD definition might present an obstacle to the
enactment of national legislation to require such information within the Single EU market. A feasible
alternative, widely supported among public health and addiction experts, is to indicate the alcohol
content in an alcoholic beverage package in grams of pure alcohol. Grams in a bottle, can or box of
drink can easily be linked with a national SD definition in grams and with low risk drinking guidelines
specified in grams of pure alcohol.
At the moment, the minimal health relevant information provided on alcoholic beverage packages
in the EU is found inadequate by both consumers and experts. The public health and addiction experts
consulted in the RARHA Delphi survey considered the calorie content in alcoholic beverages as the
most useful type of on-pack information, followed by information on additives, sugar and other
sweeteners in the product. In addition, there was a call among the experts for mandatory messages
about health or safety risks on both alcoholic beverage packages and on alcohol advertisements. Such
messages are also widely supported by EU citizens. Obtaining information on the health implications of
consuming alcoholic beverages is the consumer’s right, and on-pack information is a potentially
effective approach for filling in gaps in information, in particular when used as part of comprehensive
communication and public health activities.
References
1
Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (2014) Labelling of alcoholic beverages: user guide. Food Standards
Australia and New Zealand.
2
Campden BRI (2009) Monitoring Implementation of Alcohol Labelling Regime: Stage 2. Campden BRI.
3
Scafato E et al. (2014/2016) Low risk drinking guidelines in Europe: overview of RARHA survey results. Rome:
Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
4
Coughlan S & Doyle J (2015) Standard Drink definitions, communication approaches and public understanding.
Dublin: Health Service Executive.
5
Mongan D & Long J (2015) Standard drink measures in Europe: Peoples’ understanding of standard drinks and
their use in drinking guidelines, alcohol surveys and labelling. Dublin: Health Research Board.
6
Tricas-Sauras S et al. (2015) Consumer survey on communication of alcohol associated risks. European Alcohol
Policy Alliance.
7
Montonen M (2016) RARHA Delphi survey: “Low risk” drinking guidelines as a public health measure. Helsinki:
National Institute for Health and Welfare.
8
Greenfield T and Kerr W (2008) Alcohol measurement methodology in epidemiology: recent advances and
opportunities. Addiction 103(7): 1082-1099.
9
Knibbe R and Bloomfield K (2001) Alcohol Consumption Estimates in Surveys in Europe: Comparability and
Sensitivity for Gender Differences. Substance Abuse, 22(1): 23-38.
10
Wilkinson C et al. (2011) Alcohol pouring practices among 65- to 74-year-olds in Western Australia. Drug And
Alcohol Review, 30(2): 200-206.
11
Kaskutas L and Graves K (2000) An alternative to standard drinks as a measure of alcohol consumption. Journal
Of Substance Abuse, 12(1-2): 67-78.
12
Stockwell T et al. (2004) Under-reporting of alcohol consumption in household surveys: a comparison of
quantity-frequency, graduated-frequency and recent recall. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 99(8): 1024-1033.
13
Dawson D (1998) Volume of ethanol consumption: Effects of different approaches to measurement. Journal of
Studies on Alcohol 59: 191-197.
14
Dawson D (2011) Defining Risk Drinking. Alcohol Research & Health, Vol. 34 (2): 144-156.
15
Hope A (2009) A standard drink in Ireland: What strength? Health Service Executive - Alcohol Implementation
Group.
16
Kerr W and Stockwell T (2012) Understanding standard drinks and drinking guidelines. Drug And Alcohol Review,
31(2): 200-205.
43
Good practice principles for low risk drinking guidelines