Labour want beer and wine to carry warnings about health risks of boozing
EVERY CAN of beer and bottle of wine will have to carry “scary” warnings about the danger of boozing too much under plans to be unveiled by Labour today.
All alcohol products will have to carry details about the number of calories they contain and UK drinking guidelines, under the proposed overhaul.
But the move was blasted by campaigners last night who said Brits don’t need a sticker to tell them they are drinking too much.
Chris Snowdon, Head of Lifestyle Economics at the free market Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, told The Sun: “The nanny statists are at it again.
“While there is a case for putting calories on booze, as with food, most adults don’t need scary stickers on the side of a pint to tell them how much is too much - not least because the new drinking guidelines have no scientific credibility.
“Forcing companies to put false information on their products to spook drinkers is a definite no-no.”
Health advice on how much adults can safely drink in a week was cut significantly in 2016, from 28 units a week for men and 21 for women to 14 for both.
Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth – who grew up with an alcoholic father – will announce the plan at Alcohol Change UK’s national conference in London today.
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He will say: “Tackling alcohol abuse must be at the heart of the prevention agenda, yet there’s more nutritional information on a carton of milk than a bottle of wine.
“It’s time for full transparency for consumers with alcohol labelling - the current voluntary approach is simply not fit for purpose.
“The industry hasn’t moved at a pace to keep up with consumers’ expectations who want correct and comprehensive information so they can make fully informed choices.”
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