Should there be health warnings on alcohol

The flying mouse

THIS MORNING, SEVERAL reports indicate that Ireland is facing tough opposition from within the EU regarding its plans to bring in detailed health warning on alcohol products.

The previous government under then health minister Leo Varadkar set out plans last November to introduce five separate health warnings on alcohol bottles, including calorie counts and general health warnings.

Now, 11 EU countries have objected to the plan... Meanwhile, Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes told RTÉ that the government “will have a significant problem if they want to get this legislation through”.

http://www.thejournal.ie/poll-alcohol-products-2794539-May2016/

Well should there be some sort of health warnings on alcohol ?

Don't have a problem with it if it makes people more aware of the dangers of abusing alcohol, Suppose though everyone knows that already ?

The flying mouse

No, I don't.

First warning

Budweiser is ****e










taken form the first comment in link,well I thought it was funny...

snubbleste

Yes.
Alcohol is a dangerous legal drug after all.

Are those 11 EU countries major wine/beer producers?

PirateShampoo

We have alcoholism in our family, this won't change a single thing and I don't really see the point in it myself.

The bigger issue is if this gets past what will the Irish Nanny State want to put labels on next?

Soft drinks will be a sure fire target, Sausages?, Chocolate? Etc.

Then what happens once they are done with food, there was already talk about porn on the Internet and banning UFC.

I don't know really. Do those horrible photos on packets of fags really make smokers decide to smoke less/give up smoking?

The same philosophy should apply as applies to cigarettes.

K-9

I don't know if health warnings work that well for cigarettes, apparently plain packaging does make some difference.

Calorie counts yes, they should have sugar levels etc. same as all foods. Information is king!

Absolutely no point.. Everyone knows the dangers and even then, they're too broad a spectrum to put on a bottle.

"This could ruin your family if you let it take over your life."
"Drink too much of this stuff for a few years and you could damage your liver."
"You might think you're right when you drink this stuff but you're probably wrong."
"After you drink this, it is advisable to ignore that guy starting a fight outside SuperMacs."
"You may be living the life of a functioning alcoholic if you're reading this before noon."

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

People need stupid warnings stamped on their foreheads if they can't drink responsibly.

stampydmonkey

Would like to see calorie counts, sugar etc.

goz83

So what about the pint being served in the local pub? Print out the warnings on a receipt?

It's not a bad idea, but I don't see it making any difference.

AnonoBoy

PirateShampoo wrote: »

We have alcoholism in our family, this won't change a single thing and I don't really see the point in it myself.

I really don't think they're expecting unit information and calorie counts on bottles of beer to sort out alcoholics.

I think it's more so people can keep track of their own drinking. People are very vague on what a unit of alcohol is. I definitely am. I was drinking a foreign beer with the units on it the other day and it surprised me how much was in it.

It's not a bad idea really. Like everything - people will still happily ignore it but for the people who want the information it's good to have it there.

Andre 3000

They should put "Toxic Hazard" with the skull and crossbows on the Lidl and Alid vodka knockoffs. Better than any bleach. Still won't stop me buying and drinking them though

No, I don't.

I listened to RTÉ News this morning with incredulity: the Irish government is following through on an agreement in the Programme for Government to finally get serious about alcohol abuse in this state (which costs the state billions in lost productivity and health costs each year) and major EU powers are objecting.

"The Government's plan to set a minimum price for alcohol, restrict advertising and to demand health warnings and calorie counts on drinks cans and bottles was hailed last year as a key move to promote better public health.

But the move has sparked alarm in several EU countries, 11 of them, including France and Germany, have objected.

So too has the European Commission who fears it could be a barrier to free trade


The main concern is focused on the labelling requirements.

Population health expert Professor Joe Barry said Ireland was being kicked around by the EU on this issue."

Source: Health warnings on alcohol products facing EU opposition

So, putting accurate health information on the label that makes it clear that all that wine/beer is not good for you is a problem? Informing consumers with something other than the propaganda of incredibly powerful corporations and their multi-billion euro "marketing" budgets designed to romanticise this drug is the "main concern"? I'd trust Joe Barry's take on what needs to be done before i'd take it from any lobbyist for the alcohol industry. As somebody who has until recently been strongly pro-EU for political/cultural reasons - i.e. it helps breaks the smothering "all roads lead to mother England" inferiority complex which has marked Irish political discourse since 1800 - I find the objections by no fewer than 11 (of the 28) EU countries, including France and Germany mind you, staggeringly parochial. France, of all countries, comes out worse for per capita alcohol consumption than Ireland [2010 WHO data as I'm unable to find more current data: WHO: alcohol consumption in the EU (2010)]

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If people could engage with this most serious social issue with more than "nanny state" Europhobic nonsense retched from the most base of the British tabloids that would be refreshingly different. Here's a bit of perspective from 2003: EU objections won't hold up pub smoke ban. Today, most EU countries, including France, have bans in public places. Alcohol has much more money behind it so hopefully the government will stand by what's right here.

Do you support the Irish government with this proposal?

keeponhurling

I would have thought it's not that much of a barrier, and you need to label by country anyways.

Pretty sure that for example, if you want to sell your beverage or food in France, you must have some basic information in French about the contents.
Similarly for other countries.
Your customer service line would be a local number etc.

So I really don't see such an issue to having to make a country specific label for Ireland.

Surely all the info that the government could require is already known by the producers of the drink

The flying mouse

No, I don't.

PirateShampoo wrote: »

We have alcoholism in our family, this won't change a single thing and I don't really see the point in it myself.

The bigger issue is if this gets past what will the Irish Nanny State want to put labels on next?

Soft drinks will be a sure fire target, Sausages?, Chocolate? Etc.

Then what happens once they are done with food, there was already talk about porn on the Internet and banning UFC.

Suppose one of the aims would be in the education of younger people who are just starting out in there drinking ways,and to try and counter the views that drinking huge amounts of alcohol is not a bad thing with no side effects.

Cant see any harm in it myself ,if anything as already been said the calorie and sugar info might help.

Poor Uncle Tom

It's about protecting people from themselves. ANYTHING consumed to excess is bad for you. Drink enough water and you could kill yourself.

People are idiots...........

SpannerMonkey

No, I don't.

i have no issue with it . the more information we have the better . i cant see it affecting how much i drink or what i drink but its still good to have the info

SEPT 23 1989

I propose a ration card system where weekly amounts of alcohol are allocated to the citizen based on age and social status obviously amounts distributed will not be enough to induce intoxication leading to unsightly weight gain or any sort of merriment

They mentioned minimum pricing on RTE as well. Whats happened with that I wonder? If its anything like the Scottish situation, it will be bogged down for years in legal wrangling. Hopefully it never sees the light of day. Blatant nanny state interference penalising the responsible majority.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0529/791740-alcohol-legislation/

FortySeven

Are they going to put warnings on pint glasses? What about the plastic cups for special occasions?

drunkmonkey

Should be a coloured scale of hangover warnings on them..

FortySeven

[Deleted User] wrote: »

They mentioned minimum pricing on RTE as well. Whats happened with that I wonder? If its anything like the Scottish situation, it will be bogged down for years in legal wrangling. Hopefully it never sees the light of day. Blatant nanny state interference penalising the responsible majority.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0529/791740-alcohol-legislation/

I have to take issue with this 'responsible majority.' It is just not the case that people drink responsibly all of the time. The very attraction of alcohol is largely around the lowering of inhibitions and the freedom of responsibility. Everyone has done something they regret while drinking and so it comes down to what is socially acceptable and what isn't. There is no easily defined line between being acceptably drunk and being irresponsible. A stroll sober through any town center on a Saturday night will quickly dispel any myths of responsible drinking in any form.

Phoebas

No, I don't.

The poll needs more options.

I agree with the Government proposals, but they should be EU wide.
Otherwise they are a barrier to trade in the single market because EU producers need to have special labelling for the Irish market and Irish producers need to have special labelling for the EU market.

Winterlong

I am not sure who would actually read the warnings and if they would make any difference to be honest. But if it keeps some people happy that the nanny state is alive and well, then so be it.

FortySeven

FortySeven wrote: »

A stroll sober through any town center on a Saturday night will quickly dispel any myths of responsible drinking in any form.

What percentage of drinkers overall are we looking at here though? Minimum pricing disguised as a 'health initiative' is a blunt hammer penalising everybody.

TerrorFirmer

Calorie counts is kinda interesting as most people don't think about calories when drinking (and rightly so unless you're drinking everyday), even though a session could be about 2000 calories.

France, of all countries, comes out worse for per capita alcohol consumption than Ireland [2010 WHO data as I'm unable to find more current data: WHO: alcohol consumption in the EU (2010)]

Per head consumption doesn't tell the full story though, it's more so how we drink alcohol in Ireland that's the issue. A glass of wine a day is no harm - seven or eight glasses in one sitting is quite the opposite.

Debil

No problem with it as long as they are consistent, and put it on everything else that can be harmful if you have a ****eload of it. Tuna, water, tic tacs, etc.

Wibbs

No, I don't.

Broadly agree. Not so sure about minimum pricing though. As for the "EU powers"? I'm royally fed up to the back teeth with them at this stage.

Sh1tbag OToole

There I was thinking alcohol was healthy all along. Suppose I'll have to take up cocaine now, no health warnings on that yet

Sunny Disposition

Can see why the British are seriously considering leaving EU when foreign bureaucrats are stopping an obviously good idea.