Because of cancer risk
As with tobacco: Norwegian health authority wants warnings for alcohol
In Norway, as with tobacco, warnings could soon be printed on alcohol products such as beer and spirits
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They are already on cigarette packs in many countries. Now the health authority in Norway also wants such warnings on beer and liquor bottles. Too much alcohol can cause cancer. This should be pointed out.
Alcohol is a part of many occasions. The glass of sparkling wine to celebrate. The glass of red wine for dinner. Or the after-work beer. Occasional, responsible alcohol consumption according to the motto “No one can refuse a glass of honor” is not a big problem.
However, too much of it can have health effects. This can range from a hangover the next morning to alcohol poisoning to liver damage. In Norway, however, the local health authority sees another health problem caused by alcohol: cancer. That’s why the “Helsedirektoratet” recommends labels on products containing alcohol that warn that alcohol can be carcinogenic.
Many people are not aware of the risk of cancer
The agency has sent a 30-page letter to the Ministry of Health in Norway, saying that warnings can be an important tool to increase the population’s knowledge of the possible health effects of alcohol consumption, like the Norwegian broadcaster NRK and the newspaper “Dagsavisen” to report. It should be noted that this applies in particular to the link between alcohol consumption and cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
“A large part of the population is not aware of the connection between moderate alcohol consumption and cancer,” the authority is quoted as saying. It is therefore wanted that the signs with warnings on labels for beer, liquor and Co. be included in the Norwegian Alcohol Act. A detailed and concrete design proposal must be examined at a later date, it is said.
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Sara Underland Mjelva, section head for prevention at the Norwegian Cancer Society, told NRK that a labeling system makes it easier for people to make good health decisions. “We know that awareness of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer is very low, and such a labeling system will help.”
WHO: three million deaths from alcohol every year
According to Mjelva, it’s “well documented” that alcohol increases the risk of seven different types of cancer. About 1,000 cancer cases per year could be attributed to alcohol consumption, with breast and colon cancer being the most common. The decisive factor here is the total alcohol consumption over time.
the World Health Organization WHO warns of the consequences of alcohol consumption. Globally, there are three million deaths from harmful alcohol consumption. This corresponds to 5.3 percent of all deaths. “Harmful alcohol consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 diseases and injuries,” according to the WHO. Certain cancers can also be caused.
Harmful alcohol consumption is responsible for a number of diseases
There is a causal relationship between harmful alcohol consumption and a range of mental and behavioral disorders, other non-communicable diseases and injuries. The latest connections have also been made between harmful alcohol consumption and the occurrence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and the course of HIV/AIDS.
WHO identifies ways to reduce exposure to harmful alcohol use. These included regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages, regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol, and raising awareness of public health problems caused by harmful alcohol use.
Criticism of the rule changes in Norway comes from Petter Haas Brubakk, senior director at the interest group NHO Mat og Drikke. He demands that Norway wait with a rule change until it is decided at EU level. He was also skeptical as to whether the license plates had an impact on alcohol consumption.