The proposed pregnancy warning labels are inadequate. The pregnancy warning labels should be:

  • Mandatory, so that the label appears prominently on all products and point of sale
  • Consistent size and position, to ensure that the label is visible
  • Developed by health behaviour and public health experts
  • Accompanied by a public education campaign

The industry’s current voluntary labelling regime can only be described as grossly inadequate. Firstly, the labels are not warnings as they do not describe potential harms that can result from alcohol misuse nor do they provide information on how to avoid these harms.

Secondly, the labels are small and hidden on the back of alcohol products, which makes it difficult for consumers to find the label without prior awareness of its existence.

Finally, if history or international experience with voluntary labelling has shown us anything, it is that the industry’s adoption of these labels will be minimal at best.

However, it should also be kept in mind that the alcohol industry has created a successful diversion from the evidence-based approach to labelling by focusing on one issue, drinking during pregnancy

Read in more detail here: FARE.