Risikko: Warnings labels on alcoholic drinks should be abandoned
The Minister of Health and Social Services Paula Risikko has proposed that the scheme to introduce warning labels on alcoholic drinks be rescinded. The use of warnings was set to be introduced in September 2009.
The Minister said that she does not believe that the use of warnings will have any impact on alcohol abuse. Instead, the Minister argues, efforts on public information on alcohol problems and the better regulation of alcohol by price taxation are more likely to cut problem drinking.
The EU Commission has wanted Finland not to use proposed warning labels but instead to opt for standard warnings used by other EU countries. Minister Risikko said that the EU position is unrelated to the issue, which concerns whether warning labels are of any use.