Eurocare’s view and recommendation on Labeling

Committee on National Alcohol Policy and Action

27 January 2010

Eurocare

The European Alcohol Policy Alliance was formed in1990 with 9 member organisation

Today:• 51 member org• 21 countries• Secretariat in

Brussels

3.

4.

Eurocare’s Vision

is a Europe where alcohol related harm is no longer one of the leading risk factors for ill-health and pre-mature death.

A Europe where innocents no longer suffer from the drinking of others and where the European Union and its Member States recognise the harm done by alcohol and apply effective and comprehensive policies to tackle it.

Eurocare is recognised as the leading independent and objective commentator to alcohol related dialogue and policy development.

5.

Background for labelling initiative

•Previous EU funded projects

•Member State initiatives

•Industry voluntary actions

•Eurocare commitment to the EAHF

6.

Development of a library of images/text

•Low budget cooperation with design company Fuel

•Present Preliminary library – for comments

•Deadline better images/text 1 February 2010

•Testing spring 2010

7.

Health warnings on alcohol beverages should:

• Have a standard format and design – irrelevant of the mark

• Placed in a standard location on the container

• Be parallel of the base of the container, in a box

• Appear on a contrasting background (black on white)

• Sizing be determined by the minimum percentage of the size

8.

Rotating with sufficient vividness and strength

• Determined by the European Institutions/Ministers of health

• NON – Promotional

• Images need to be informational in style

• UNDERSTANDABLE, Factual

• Separate from other information of the label

• Educate and inform rather than authoritarian and prescriptive of behaviour

Examples developed in Australia

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French pictogram – since October 2007

• All alcoholic packages require either: pictogram or

• ”Consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy even in small amounts can seriously damage the child’s health”

Health and Safety warning messages -Worldwide

• Argentina• Australia• Brazil• Canada• Colombia• Costa Rica• Ecuador• Guatamala• Honduras

• India (State of Assam)

• Mexico• South Africa• South Korea• Taiwan• Thailand• United States• Venezuela• Zimbabwe

EUROPE - Advertisements

• Estonia

• France

• Italy (voluntary)

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Poland

• Portugal

• Spain (voluntary)

• Sweden

• UK (voluntary –However plan for:

• Alcohol: Know Your Limits

• Do not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily (for men)

• and 2-3 units daily (for women)

• For advice contact Drinkline, the national

• 24-hour helpline,on 0800 917 82 82 or visit Drinkaware at

www.drinkaware.co.uk.

27.

Europe - Labels

•Bulgaria – risk for health

•Cyprus

•France – drinking during pregnancy

•Slovenia – not suitable for children

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28.

Eurocare’s view

1.Consumers have the right to be aware of the ingredients contained in beverages.

2.Relevant nutrition information like kcal

3.Certain ingredients can cause allergies or intolerances

4. Alcoholic strength (total grams)

5. Health and safety warnings

29.

WAY FORWARD

•Suggestions for better images/pictures/texts by 1 February 2010

•Spring Open consultation period

•Hopefully to be tested in different settings

•Result to be presented in the 4th European Alcohol Policy Conference 21-22 June 2010

19/04/2010

96, Rue des ConfédérésB-1000 Brussels, BelgiumTel: +32 2 736 05 72info@eurocare.org

EUROCARE is a network of public health organizations. It advocatesthe prevention and reduction of alcohol-related harm in Europe througheffective and evidence based alcohol policy. www.eurocare.org

Mariann SkarSecretary General

This paper was produced for a meeting organized by Health & Consumers DG and represents the views of its author on thesubject. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission's or Health & Consumers DG's views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the dataincluded in this paper, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.