UK- Alcohol Labels to be more detailed in Britain

Working with the alcohol industry to improve the labeling on alcohol containers was also a new measure unveiled in the new alcohol strategy. As from next year beer, wine and hard liquor packaging in Britain will carry warning labels detailing how many units of alcohol each drink contains as well as recommended safe drinking levels.

It's the first time health warnings on alcoholic drink containers will be this specific in Britain, where binge- drinking among young adults has been a growing concern.

Alcohol containers presently carry percentage of alcohol details and most have unit information, but none have details about safe drinking levels. The Health Ministry and the drinks industry struck a voluntary agreement on the labels, which are to start appearing by the end of 2008.

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint did not reveal the exact wording to be used on the labels, but said the warnings will not be as strong as those found on cigarette packets.

Health officials have also said they want warnings against drinking by pregnant women to be included on the new labels, but it is still unknown whether the industry had agreed to that.

Binge-drinking among young adults has been on the rise in Britain in recent years, and figures released last week showed that alcohol-related deaths have more than doubled in men since 1993.

Officials advise that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units of alcohol a day and women not more than two to three.