Much of the alcohol industry is still using out-of-date labelling on its products, a BBC Panorama investigation presented by Adrian Chiles has found.
In 2016, UK chief medical officers introduced new ‘low risk drinking guidelines’ which set the upper drinking limit to 14 units per week for both men and women. Prior to this, men were told to consume no more than 21 units per week, while women’s guidelines remained the same.
Yet a review of 100 labels in stores across the UK found only 14 were labelled correctly with the new lower drinking limits on.
Katharine Severi, from the Institute of Alcohol Studies, told Panorama: “It’s not acceptable to be displaying the old guidance on products because they could inadvertently be putting consumers at greater risk.”
The alcohol industry is currently self-regulated in the UK which means there is no mandatory requirement for health information, units and guidelines to be clearly labelled on alcoholic products.
Under this system of self-regulation, there are no penalties for alcohol producers who give consumers out-of-date – and therefore incorrect – information.
The Portman Group is the self-regulating trade body for alcoholic drinks – responsible for correct and up-to-date labelling of products across the UK.
In 2016 when the new guidelines were set by the UK chief medical officers, the Portman Group was given until September 2019 to remove out-of-date health advice from labels on alcohol bottles and packaging.
John Timothy, the group’s chief executive, said: “It’s not my job to write the science behind it. They’ve said it’s 14 units and that’s what matters now.
“I think the industry’s job is to communicate the 14 units in the context of wider risk and the industry does that.
“When the updated guidance came out, the industry was given a period of grace to change labels, that period of grace ends in September this year. There are ongoing discussions amongst my members about how they communicate that risk and how they communicate the CMO guidance.”
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, a liver specialist at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, explained why it’s problematic for the alcohol industry to self-regulate: “That’s very attractive for government because they’re not picking up the bill. The problem is that industry has a primary responsibility to its shareholders. If people drink less, they will make less money and that conflict of interest is not always appreciated by government.
“And I think government has to wave the stick and accept the fact that industry can’t give unbiased advice on this topic and while this is an involuntary one, it will not step up to the plate.”
Severi agreed that the self-regulatory system “is failing.”
Chiles, who last year revealed he turned to alcohol after being diagnosed with anxiety, said: “I take the view that people should be able to drink what they like, but they should do so having been given the right information at the point of purchase.
“I’m amazed that the industry has got away for so long without simply stating on all products how many units of alcohol they contain; how many calories and, most importantly, the chief medical officers’ advice that 14 units a week is as much as you can drink without significantly risking your health.”
BBC Panorama: Britain’s Drink Problem broadcasts on Monday 10 June on BBC One at 8.30pm.