Health warnings to stem booze boom
Buyers could see cig packet-style messages
THE Scottish Government are considering slapping cigarette packet-style health warnings on booze as sales continue to boom.
Scots drank an additional 1.8million litres of booze – equivalent to two million bottles of wine – in the first three months AFTER minimum unit pricing was introduced in May.
The Scottish Government have confirmed they are monitoring plans in Ireland to place cigarette packet-style health warnings on all alcoholic cans and bottles.
A spokeswoman said: “People should be supported to make informed choices about drinking and have a right to know about the harms associated with alcohol such as liver disease, heart disease and cancer.
“Providing information on labels is a crucial and effective way to give people health information and advice that informs their choices.
“We are watching the progress of the Irish measures with interest.”
Since minimum pricing was introduced, sales of cheap cider have fallen but drinks which already cost more, such as
Buckfast tonic wine, appear to have benefited from the change.
Sales of Buckfast have risen by £5.3million to £36.5million this year although a spokesman said they can’t attribute their rise to minimum pricing.
Doctors’ group the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems have backed a move towards health warnings.
But John Timothy of industry trade body the Portman Group said: “There is no justification for alarming health warnings designed to scare the public.
“Drinking in moderation and having alcohol-free days is the best advice consumers can get.”