This report was published in January 2018. Please be aware that more current information may exist and that its positions may no longer reflect those of RSPH.
Labelling the Point
As Dry January draws to a close, RSPH is proposing a new approach to the way alcoholic drinks are labelled in the UK, in response to what it calls an "alcohol health awareness vacuum".
What we're calling for
RSPH is proposing a new approach to the way alcoholic drinks are labelled in the UK, the proposed scheme includes:
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Mandatory inclusion of the Government’s low-risk drinking guidelines of no more than 14 units a week, potentially including an explicit cigarette-style warning of the link with health conditions such as bowel and breast cancer.
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A drink drive warning on the front label – our research indicates explicit warnings such as these are especially prioritised by young drinkers and more deprived socio-economic groups [4].
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Calorie content per container or per serve on the front label – our research indicates this could result in an almost 10% swing in consumer purchasing decisions from the highest alcohol drinks to the lowest, within all main drink categories and across all socio-economic groups.
Less than one in six
people are aware of the Government's low-risk alcohol guidelines
Figures show that
one in ten
are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer
80%
of people are unable to correctly estimate the calories in a glass of wine
What would it look like in practice?
