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UK Introduce New Health Warnings Against Alcohol

by Medindia Content Team on May 28 2007 7:55 PM

New health warnings against alcohol will be introduced in England to ward-off people from heavy boozing.

The new labels like ‘know your limits’ and ‘drink responsibly’ will be out by the end of 2008 as part of a voluntary agreement between ministers and industry.

The agreement was first planned three years ago but it is only now that a proper format has been adopted.

Ministers have insisted that if the industry does not abide by the agreement, legislation will be introduced.

According to Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, it is a ‘landmark agreement’ and the warnings introduced will be kept simple for the people to understand the implications of heavy drinking better.

"We want to make it as simple as possible for people to keep an eye on how much they are drinking and help them take responsibility for lessening the impact excess alcohol can have on their health,” the BBC quoted Flint, as saying.

Although the agreement has been laid down by health ministers in England, it will be applied to alcohol manufacturers in the entire United Kingdom.

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The warning campaign will make the industry issue specific warnings on bottles and will also make it compulsory to give information about units, as well as caution women who are trying to conceive or are pregnant.

According to Kevin Hawkins, of the British Retail Consortium the alcohol industry wanted to take a "responsible attitude to selling alcohol" and have shown their involvement and commitment in the program.

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"Retailers have been actively involved in the development of this label and the concise and simple way it sets out information,” Hawkins said.

A spokesman for Alcohol Concern insisted that its good that finally such an agreement has been made.

"We're delighted that the government and industry have finally been able to reach a consensus on the issue,” the spokesman said.

Source-ANI
LIN/M


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