Most alcohol labels have out-of-date info – where they have any
● Campaigners accuse drinks industry of ‘putting profits ahead of people’s health’
More than 70 per cent of alcohol labels do not include the drinking guidelines that were updated more than three years ago, according to new research.
The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) examined labels on 424 products in supermarkets and a newsagent in locations across Scotland, Wales, London, and the south- east and north-east of England.
As well as missing out on drinking guidelines, the research also found more than half of labels (56 per cent) included no nutritional information, 37 per cent only listed a container’s calorie content while just 7 per cent showed full nutritional content.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) displayed misleading, out-ofdate health information such as the old UK guidelines or those from other countries.
AHA chairman Professor Sir Ian Gilmore said: “Alco - hol labelling in this country is woefully inadequate and not fit for purpose if we wish to build a healthier society.
“It is disappointing, but telling that members of the Portman Group–the body purporting to promote‘ best practice’ on label ling of alcohol products – are the least likely to display basic health information. It is time that health label ling is required for all products.
“The public must be granted the power to make informed decisions about their health by having access to prominent health warnings and information on ingredients, nutrition and alcohol content at the point of purchase.
“The industry’ s reluctance to include this information on their products suggests profits are being put ahead of people’s health.”
The research also described health information as “often illegible ”, with the average height of text measuring 2mm when 3.5mm is required to be easily readable.
According to Alcohol Focus Scotland, the law only requires labels to show the strength of alcohol( ABV) and the container’s volume–with more information required to bed isplayed on a pint of milk than on a bottle of wine.
Alison Douglas, the group’s chief executive, said: “Alcohol producers continue to show a complete disregard for our right to know what is in drinks and what the risks associated with alcohol consumption are.
“Their failure to provide full and accurate information is simply unacceptable. We need reliable health information directly on bottles, cans and menus, where it can usefully inform our decisions.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We are committed to improved alcohol label ling so consumers have the information they need to make informed purchase decisions.”