Warnings on alcoholic beverages

One of the Commission-sponsored reports recommends that alcoholic beverages with references to their harmful effects may be. However, industry representatives believe that restrictions are not the right way to reduce the consumption of alcohol. The Commission’s report supported Alcohol in Europe [in English], by the London Institute of Alcohol Studies has been drawn up, provides an overview of the alcohol policy of the EU countries, alcohol consumption, the Europeans and the economic importance of the alcohol industry. The report concludes that alcohol policy does not necessarily have economic consequences. From other studies show that the total costs, caused by alcohol consumption, in 2003 to 1.3% of GDP, and so on as much as the tobacco consumption costs. The costs to society due to health problems, productivity loss due to missed at work, unemployment and shorter working life through early death. The report shows that 10% of deaths among young women and about 25% of deaths among men are due to alcohol. Contrary to the expectations is noted that many aspects of alcohol consumption, little difference between the various EU countries. Thus, the excessive alcohol consumption among young people in the 1990s in most countries increased. 44% of the alcoholic beverages sold in the EU be drunk, beer, wine 34% and 23% spirits. Among the recommendations to reduce alcohol consumption include the introduction of educational programs, which should start early to young people about the harmful effects on health, families and society.
Moreover, it is recommended that alcoholic beverages with warnings which can consumers on the health consequences of attention. In addition, the packaging and labeling requirements be tightened to prevent consumers a false picture of product characteristics and that it gives too great attraction to minors exercise.
The EU, which otherwise hardly have expertise in the health field, has succeeded in EU-wide introduction of health warnings on cigarette packs to enforce.