Liquor brands put health warnings on booze in Oz
After tobacco, major liquor brands in Australia, the country known for its binge drinking culture, today launched a voluntary programme to affix health warnings on their products.
DrinkWise, the alcohol industry-funded group launched a range of health warnings labels for drinks, including messages such as 'Kids and alcohol don't mix' and 'It is safest not to drink while pregnant', in a first such voluntary move globally.
"There will be no silver bullet, this won't change overnight. It might take 10 years, but our aim is to see a healthier drinking culture in Australia," DrinkWise Australia chairwoman Trish Worth was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Meanwhile, Australian Medical Association (AMA) President Dr Steve Hambleton said the warnings needed to be clearer and tougher.
"The labels introduced voluntarily by the industry do not go far enough," Dr Hambleton said.
"The alcohol industry must make a full and genuine commitment to reducing alcohol-related harms to teenagers and young people by ceasing the targeted marketing of alcohol to teenagers and sponsorship of sporting and youth cultural events."
