Health Labels for Alcohol by End of 2007

Health warning labels for alcoholic drinks look set to be introduced by the end of next year, according to the Department of Health.

The proposed labels will carry unit information and responsible drinking messages and could carry warning messages, like cigarette packets.

The DoH says it has been working with alcohol industry representatives to come up with the labels.

However, the idea of warning labels has faced criticism with Matt Skinner, sommelier for Jamie Olivers Fifteen restaurants calling the idea ridiculous.

Are they going to do the same thing with crisps or Coke? There are far worse offenders, he said.

Clare Young, founder of Vintellect and formerly director Cockburn & Campbell, the wine division of Youngs pub estate, believes warning labels would not cause too many problems for the trade. However, she does have concerns about the idea going too far. If you served a vintage wine with a stonking great big health label on the front of it, it would be almost laughable, she said.