| November 12th, 2004 10:06 AM |
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| Zeeta |
Brewer offers new health warning
Britain's biggest brewer is labelling cans and bottles with a health warning in a bid to help combat binge drinking.
The warnings will appear on Scottish & Newcastle's Newcastle Brown ale, extending next year to brands such as Fosters, Kronenbourg and John Smith's.
The new label shows daily alcohol limits for "responsible drinkers"
There will also be details of a new website - drinkaware.co.uk - that enables people to compare their alcohol intake with government guidelines.
Other brewers are expected to follow Scottish & Newcastle's move.
Coors, which brews Carling and Grolsch lagers, has said it will introduce a similar policy next year.
The labels on Scottish & Newcastle's Scottish Courage brands explain that responsible drinkers should not exceed four units of alcohol a day for men and three for women.
Drinkers will also be told how many units are in each can or bottle.
Alcohol content varies, but one unit is roughly one measure of spirits, half a pint of beer or half a 175ml glass of wine.
Scottish Courage managing director John Dunsmore said: "The introduction of sensible drinking messages on bottles and cans alongside alcohol unit information will help individuals to make better informed decisions about their alcohol consumption."
Drinkaware.co.uk is run by the Portman Group, which is funded by the alcohol industry to promote sensible drinking.
The site, which is currently unavailable because of technical problems but is expected to go live later on Friday, offers an alcohol unit calculator using real drink brands.
Unit calculator
It has special sections for drivers, young people, pregnant women, parents and older people.
There is also a simple self-assessment test for people particularly concerned about their drinking habits.
Health Secretary John Reid said: "I welcome the fact that the Portman group of drinks producers accepts its responsibility to give accurate, accessible advice on responsible drinking.
"Companies making it simple to understand exactly the amount of alcohol in their particular drink brands and providing straightforward ways to access advice on problem drinking is a major step forward."
Complex message
Portman Group chief executive Jean Coussins said: "This is a massive step forward towards ensuring that people who choose to drink alcohol can understand fully the responsible drinking message, and can make well-informed choices as a result."
She added that there had always been difficulty "communicating a detailed and complex responsible drinking message... on something as small as a drinks label".
Directing consumers to the new website would give them "as much information as possible", she said.
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| November 12th, 2004 10:11 AM |
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| M.O.W.A.T. |
Corona's new warning label: Not Beer |
| November 12th, 2004 10:18 AM |
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| nankerphelge |
Mighty responsible of them.
I see men are supposed to stop at 4 units (half-pints)
That's not gonna work!
I'm just getting started by then.
I did like the idea of "a simple self-assessment test for people particularly concerned about their drinking habits."
Essentially, if you piss your pants, you've had too much!
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| November 12th, 2004 10:34 AM |
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| egon |
4 units a day?!
How can one get through it? |
| November 12th, 2004 10:41 AM |
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| caro |
quote:
Responsible drinkers
don't exceed
4 daily units (men)
3 daily units (women)
Phallocrats!!! |
| November 12th, 2004 11:49 AM |
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| nankerphelge |
Almost time to go drink irresponsibly! |
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