Thus, the FPH recommends posting warnings like the following on bottles of wine, spritis & beer: "Alcohol increases the risk of violence and abuse", "Alcohol is the cause of more than 15,000 deaths per year in the UK" or "Alcohol increases the risk of cancerous diseases of the mouth and throat".
According to Mark Bellis, FPH spokesperson and Director of the National Health Service in Liverpool, it was not the goal to prohibit the consumption of alcohol, but rather inform the consumer about the risks so that they can make better choices. "Alcohol is a dangerous drug. The more of it you consume, the higher your risk of getting sick", he explains. "Our goal is to make the consumer understand how severe this is."
Bellis compares this idea to many campaignes that were led in France, Thailand and South Africa. There -he states- these type of warnings increased the understanding of consumers in light of the risks of alcohol consumption.
"These rules do not only apply to beer but also wine", explains Bellis. He also very strongly disagrees with Roger Corder, author of "The Wine Diet", who is convinced that a modest wine consumption is not harmful. "If you believe that consuming alcohol is good for your health then it is exactly you that should pay attention to these warnings", says Bellis.
The campaign is unanimously supported by doctors in the UK. Thus, the conservative MOP, member of the Common Health and hobby doctor Daniel Poulter states in a Guardian article: "So far, the medical consequences of consuming alcohol have been swept under the rug..., there are too many people that underestimate the problem. This is exactly why we need these warnings and that is why I am supporting them."
Many other people are not very amused about this campaign, however, and they are rather upset about these "false" accusations thrown at alcohol. "Just consider the medical evidence researchers have found underlining the fact that many people are already much more responsible in their alcohol consumption, which is why I don't know where the FPH gets their information from", says Gavin Partington, Director of Communication at the Wine & Spirits Trade Association. "Furthermore, the wine and spirits industry is already working hard to meet the nation's health standards."
"The FPH's campaign is unnecessary and inappropriate", claims a spokesman for Portman Group, an organization that works towards meeting the requirements for alcohol consumption in the country.
France is already a step ahead. There is a law, Loi Evin, which sets rules for smoking in public and transportation, that now also applies to the consumption of wine. Any advertising with alcohol has already been cut down for years. Needless to say, this has not been met with much approval... (red.yoopress)
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