14 hours ago
Alcohol labels fool nobody
Sir, – The logic behind placing warning labels on bottles of alcohol seems to be that the product can cause health and other problems and, therefore, people must be told.
Apart from the fact that this is condescending – people already know that – it is unwise to take the same approach to alcohol as has been adopted towards tobacco.
Alcohol only causes problems in excess, while most people use it in moderation. Last Saturday, for example, in the Drinks section of The Irish Times, there was an article headlined 'Wine shops moonlighting as bars are saving the neighbourhood'.
On the opposite page were the four recommended tipples of the week.
READ MORE
Should that, too, be banned as it encourages dangerous behaviour? There is no evidence that warning labels will have any effect, in particular on problem drinkers.
Labelling a bottle of wine 'This could kill you' is an irrelevant message for most people and will be regarded as laughable and therefore ignored.
The obvious measure to take is to properly fund addiction treatment and services. That takes time, money and political will.
Slapping warning labels on bottles is an exercise in 'Something must be seen to be done. Here is something'. – Yours, etc,
DAVE SLATER,
Co Kildare.
