HEALTH officials have welcomed news that alcoholic drinks from the UK will carry warning labels. Public health director Dr David Jeffs said the move, announced yesterday, had been a long time coming.
‘It’s something I suggested we bring in back in 1997,’ he said.
‘It has been raised with the States on a number of occasions but the manufacturers always felt we were too small a jurisdiction.’
Labels will appear on beers, ciders, wines and spirits by the end of 2008 in a voluntary agreement between Parliament and the drinks industry. No decision has been made on the wording, but it is unlikely to be as strong as that used for cigarettes.
Messages such as ‘know your limits’ and ‘drink responsibly’ have been suggested. The labels will also show how many units are in each drink.
‘It gives people something to think about,’ said Dr Jeffs.
‘Warnings are not going to stop people smoking completely, but it still helps.’
Estimates suggest more than seven million people in the UK, equivalent to 7,000 in Guernsey, drink more than the recommended daily amounts.
Latest health figures show that four people died in Guernsey from alcohol-related illnesses in 2005.
‘It’s three times the number we would normally have.
‘Although that doesn’t necessarily mean numbers are increasing - as we’re such a small jurisdiction - it’s something to bear in mind.
‘Alcohol-related diseases are something we are concerned about as it’s a preventative cause of death.’
Drug and alcohol strategy co-ordinator Andrea Night-ingale welcomed the move.
‘Anything to encourage sensible drinking makes sense,’ she said.
The Home Department launched a similar initiative over Christmas by putting on beer mats the recommended daily alcohol allowances.
Guernsey Licensed Victuallers’ Association president Peter Leigh said most of the island’s drink was imported from the UK.
While the warnings would help people understand how much they were drinking, he was sceptical about the health benefits.
‘How many of the population know what a unit is?’ he said.
‘There are some beers that are stronger than others so it will be useful. In terms of health warnings, I’m not sure. They’re already put it on cigarette packets and people still smoke.’
Mr Leigh was against putting the warning on pub glasses.
‘It’ll just put the price of a pint up again.’
Police superintendent Ian Morellec warned islanders not to use units as a way of measuring their fitness to drive.
‘There are many factors that influence the effects alcohol has on people,’ he said.
‘The law doesn’t talk about units in relation to drink-driving. It states that people can’t have more than 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
‘The impetus is directed towards health as opposed to the criminal justice system.
‘From what I’ve read in the media, it is intended to assist with the education for the appreciation of the quantity of alcohol being consumed in any given period.’
Article posted on 30th May, 2007 - 12.00am
Loading ...
Most Commented: