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

2. 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. 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. 4. Examples from the US- since 1980s

5. 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. 6. Health campaigners proposals in Australia

7. 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. 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. 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

10. 10.

11. 11. How health warnings on alcohol beverages could look like

12. 12.

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

15. 96, Rue des Confédérés B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 2 736 05 72 info@eurocare.org 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. www.eurocare.org Mariann Skar Secretary General