Warning Labels for Alcohol Beverage Containers

Dear Prime Minister,

It is our understanding that a private members’ bill, which would compel alcohol beverage manufacturers to put labels on all bottles warning consumers that they should not drink and drive, or drink while they are pregnant is on the order paper and should be debated in the House of Commons this fall.

While the Canada Safety Council supports sound efforts to educate and caution the public on the risks associated with consumer products, we have very legitimate questions about alcohol warning labels that we believe deserve to be heard.

To begin, I want to be clear that the Council is fully aware of and sensitive to the devastating consequences of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects. The tragedy of FAS/FAE is compounded by the fact that the condition is fully preventable if alcohol is avoided by mothers during pregnancy.

The simple truth is that there is no compelling evidence to show that warning labels will have any effect in reducing the irresponsible use of beverage alcohol products. Certainly, several major research studies have concluded that labels have had no significant impact on consumption patterns in other jurisdictions around the world that use them.

Moreover, in Canada, public awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and drinking during pregnancy is almost universal – and far exceeds Canada’s basic literacy level. And literacy is an important limiting factor for labels.

Warning labels of all kinds are proliferating in Canada, but far too many Canadians lack the ability both to read and understand them. For these people, warning labels serve no useful purpose.

A quick fix mentality pervades society right now. It affects personal expectations, business practices and public policy. Unfortunately, quick fixes often sacrifice long-term progress for short-term actions, without doing anything to address underlying causes. Too often, they may also have unforeseen consequences. When it comes to public health and safety, quick fix solutions – taken without proper consideration – usually create new problems.

Alcohol warning labels epitomize a can’t-hurt, might-help, why-not approach to public policy which is irresponsible and illogical. Good laws are driven by objectivity, hard facts, realism — not flawed public policy, political expediency and emotion.

We believe that alcohol warning labels will deliver no benefit to Canadian society and, more importantly, will divert resources and attention away from proven measures and personal interventions that actually can make a difference.

Canada needs a national strategy to address the tragic consequences of FAS/FAE, which must include counseling and treatment targeted at high-risk groups. Until this strategy is put into place, efforts to eradicate this serious problem will fail. This will have to be a shared responsibility between the Federal and Provincial/Territorial governments. The Canada Safety Council has advocated for such a strategy since as long ago as 1992.

Sincerely,

Emile Therien
President
Canada Safety Council

c.c. Honourable Tony Clement, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health; Provincial and Territorial Premiers