The government is exploring the idea of mandatory health warning labels and nutritional information on alcohol, as momentum towards similar legislation grows around the globe
The plan is set out in the UK，s 10 Year Health Plan for England
Pressure for alcohol brands to include more information on their products has been building over the last decade. Although the industry has been championing the success of voluntary measures, stricter regulations are emerging around the globe.
Raising awareness
The estimated total societal cost of alcohol harm in England comes in at ?27.4bn ($37.4bn) per year, according to the report: equivalent to more than 1.2% of GDP.
While much media coverage heralds the age of moderation, the reality is that there is still a population that drinks far above recommended limits and at dangerous levels (it’s estimated that around 4% of people drink as much as 30% of alcohol consumed each year).
A study from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that the UK spends a greater proportion of its healthcare budget on diseases caused by excess alcohol consumption than the OECD average (3.0% compared to 2.4%).
In the UK, alcohol must carry certain information (the number of units, and a warning against drinking when pregnant) but not nutritional information.
“To help tackle this, we will strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labeling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages,” announces the UK government.
“A mandatory requirement will bring alcohol labeling in line with existing health and nutritional labeling requirements for tobacco, food and alcohol-free drinks: all of which currently have more detailed nutritional and health information on their labels than alcoholic drinks. This will ensure greater public awareness of the health risks of alcohol consumption and help consumers make more informed, healthier choices.”
As just a small part of the 10-year report into the health of the UK, there is not yet much clarity on what such warnings could look like.
In the US, the then Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy made waves in January by suggesting that?alcohol labels should carry cancer warnings
And the WHO has made the same recommendation.
Alcohol brands in South Korea are already required to contain a health warning. And Ireland has passed legislation that will see health warnings on alcohol introduced from May 2026.