HEALTH warnings linking alcohol with dire outcomes such as brain damage and cancer have been backed by health groups but described as potentially ''alarming'' by an industry-backed group.
The fight over safety labels between the health sector and the multibillion-dollar liquor industry is warming up just as the federal government finally begins formal consultations today on long-awaited warnings, introduced in the United States 22 years ago.
The federally-funded Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation yesterday released its favoured warnings, including: ''Drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing cancers'' and ''drinking alcohol damages the young developing brain''.
The foundation has dismissed as ''weak'' the voluntary warnings being introduced by most beer, wine and spirit companies.
The foundation's warnings have been developed on advice from health promotion experts and were backed by the Australian Medical Association, which has urged the government to introduce tough mandatory warnings. > > > > Read More
