Opinion piece first published in the Sunday Herald Sun, 18 December, 2011.
On December 9, 2011, state and territory health ministers and the Australian government got together and decided that alcohol doesn’t need a comprehensive set of health warning labels. Instead, they agreed to start looking into alcohol warning labels designed to caution pregnant women.
While pregnant women account for a small proportion of Australian drinkers, nobody would argue against warning them about drinking, especially given the known risks to the fetus. However, the equally important but much bigger challenge is to tackle the hazardous drinking culture in the wider community.
There is a worrying gap in knowledge when it comes to what many people know about alcohol. VicHealth’s research shows 95 per cent of Victorians know it is associated with liver cirrhosis and brain damage, yet only half know it causes cancer.
A lot of drinkers also have no idea alcohol is directly linked to 60 illnesses. We’re not just talking about hangovers. These are serious, incapacitating and deadly chronic conditions, including heart disease, stroke and dementia.
While it’s a small step in the right direction, in reality, a new blink-and-you-miss-it warning label on the back of the bottle aimed squarely at pregnant women isn’t going to make most drinkers stop and think about their own alcohol consumption.
Governments have a responsibility to ensure everyone is aware of the risks that certain behaviors pose to our lives and to our health. That’s why life is full of helpful signposts to keep us safer, healthier and better informed. Think of speed limit signs on our roads, TV program classifications, UV alerts and severe weather warnings.
These reminders are based on science, our values as a society, and a good dose of common sense. The aim isn’t to control our lives or wrap us in cotton wool, but to inform us of the risks that are part of everyday choices.
When it comes to drinking, there are plenty of influences out there that encourage us to drink more than we should. It is a disturbing fact that some takeaway alcohol products now cost less than bottled water.
VicHealth’s community attitudes research of 1,500 people also shows massive public support for more information on alcohol containers. Almost nine out of 10 (89%) support a warning message advising that exceeding the recommended guidelines may be harmful [see guidelines below].
We believe that to be effective, labels must be prominent, include pictures and be tailored to the demographic who are known to choose that particular type of alcohol.
For example, alcopops should have a ‘Don’t Turn Your Night out into a Nightmare’ style of warning and champagne should carry a warning about the breast cancer risk, directed at women.
Despite what some might argue, this isn’t about putting a nanny in charge of the liquor cabinet, or telling people whether they should or shouldn’t drink alcohol. It’s a simple matter of giving drinkers all of the facts to make an informed choice for the sake of their health.
-- Brian Vandenberg, VicHealth's alcohol manager.