THE Alcohol Alliance UK (AHA) has warned that alcohol labelling ‘continues to fail’ consumers.
It comes after AHA, which is a coalition of more than 60 organisations working together to end alcohol harm, examined 369 alcohol products at locations across the UK to find out what information is available to consumers on labels.
The findings revealed that just 20% of products provided a full list of ingredients; 41% stated calorie content; 6% displayed sugar content; 5% provided full nutritional information; 65% included up-to-date CMO drinking guidelines; and 3% included a general health warning.
AHA explained that, in the UK, alcoholic drinks are only required to display the volume and strength, as well as common allergens. Information on nutritional values, ingredients, or health warnings is not required and is ‘therefore largely absent’ from labels.
It continued by saying that this ‘contrasts’ all other food and drink products, which are required to provide information on nutritional values and ingredients. In May, the UK Government also made it a requirement for calories to be displayed on most restaurant menus in England, as part of a drive to end obesity. However, AHA said alcoholic drinks were exempt from these requirements – despite accounting for nearly 10% of a drinker’s daily calorie intake.
Furthermore, AHA cited a study undertaken in Canada which showed that consumers exposed to health warnings on alcohol labels were three times more likely to be aware of drinking guidelines and more likely to know the link between alcohol and cancer.
Added to this is a recent University of Stirling study, which found that young adult drinkers are more likely to view alcohol products as ‘unappealing’ if they display prominent health warnings. The findings also indicate warnings could lead to a reduction in consumption and related harms.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said, “Alcohol’s continued exemption to the rules and standards followed by the rest of the food and drinks industry is detrimental to our health. Alcohol is not only a risk factor for cancer but it’s fuelling obesity – with some alcoholic drinks containing more calories than a Mars Bar and others containing more than double your recommended daily sugar intake. Given the choice, most alcohol producers are leaving this vital information off the labels, keeping consumers in the dark about what’s in the products they are drinking.
“Those who profit from the sale of alcohol cannot be trusted to willingly provide product information. Legislation on alcohol labelling must ensure that consumers have the full picture of the contents and risk to health of the products they buy through Government making clear labelling on all alcohol products a legal requirement. This information can reduce alcohol harm by increasing knowledge of the health risks associated with alcohol and prompting behaviour change.”
Dr Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change UK, added, “Alcohol increases our risk of 200 health conditions and, like obesity, is a major cause of diabetes, stroke, cancer and high blood pressure. Despite this, millions of us are completely unaware of the Government’s low-risk drinking guidelines, making us unable to make informed choices about our drinking.
“It is our right, as consumers, to have the low-risk drinking guidelines clearly shown on the labels of alcoholic drinks, along with nutritional information, including calories, ingredients, the units per serving, and the risks of consuming alcohol. This would support us all to make healthier choices about our drinking. The alcohol industry itself has proved utterly incapable of providing this information voluntarily. The Government must now step in and publish its planned consultation on alcohol labelling without further delay, and urgently act to place the regulation of alcohol labelling under democratic control.”
