Recommendations for effective health warning messages Protecting the unborn baby from alcohol 7 September 2011

2. Eurocare The European Alcohol Policy Alliance was formed in1990 with 9 member organisation Today: 1.48 member org 2.21 countries 3.Secretariat in Brussels

3. Alcohol in Europe 1.The EU is the heaviest drinking region in the world 2. Average 11 l. per person a year (1,400 small beers per person per year) 3.74% of +15 years old drink alcohol 4.Of them 15% hazardous (58 million) X 280 !!!!

4. Examples from the US- since 1980s

5. Voluntary scheme- the UK example Campden Chorleywood Food Research Association (2008) report 85% of alcoholic drinks are not labelled When labelled – less than 3% used recommended text

6. Health campaigners proposals in Australia

7. Way forward on labelling Eurocare position is: All alcoholic beverages should be required to state: Health and safety warnings Relevant nutrition information like Energy value (kcal) Ingredients Substances with allergenic effect Alcoholic strength (total grams)

8. Health warnings on alcohol beverages should: Have a standard format and design – irrespective of the brand Placed in a standard location on the container Be parallel to the base of the container, in a box Appear on a contrasting background (black on white) Label size as a minimum percentage of the package size Rotating with sufficient frequency

9. Determined by the European Institutions/Ministers of Health NON – Promotional, no branding 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

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11. How health warnings on alcohol beverages could look like

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13. French pictogram – since October 2007 All alcoholic packages require pictogram or: ”Consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy even in small amounts can seriously damage the child’s health”

14. Eurobarometer 2010: There is strong public support 79% for health warnings on the known risks (pregnancy and drink driving)

96, Rue des Confédérés B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: EUROCARE is a network of public health organizations. It advocates the prevention and reduction of alcohol-related harm in Europe through effective and evidence based alcohol policy. Mariann Skar Secretary General