The momentum seems to be building on the need for more in the way of health warnings on alcoholic drinks. This follows mounting evidence that alcohol consumption increases the risk of about seven types of cancer including breast and liver cancer. 

A recent study released in 2024 showed that in one year (2018) alcohol contributed to more than 900 deaths, 1,250 cancer cases, nearly 30,000 hospitalisations, and around 130,000 ACC claims. 

And in the USA, the Surgeon General has called for a reassessment of alcohol consumption and wants alcoholic drinks to carry a warning about cancer risks on their labels. 

This instantly conjured up dramatic images for me... those sorts of warnings such as those we have seen on packets of cigarettes with graphic images and messages - so my initial response was: No blimmen way. 

But I doubt there would ever be the political will or momentum to apply those sorts of extreme warnings here. 

But the question remains on whether there is a need for more health advice or warnings about the adverse effects of alcohol on drinks sold in New Zealand. 

Currently there are warnings around the dangers of drinking when pregnant - which is hard to argue with, given our horrific statistics around foetal alcohol syndrome. Beer producers also have nutritional information panels on their products. 

But it seems many New Zealanders are either blasé or ignorant about the long-term health effects of consuming alcohol. 

Regardless, I don't think anyone wants to see the same kind of fear-mongering warnings on our favourite bottle of red wine that we see on packets of cigarettes. 

I'm also not a fan of some of the other ideas which have been mooted, such as increasing tax or banning the marketing of alcohol.

Because while we might want to restrict the marketing of products that encourage binge drinking and the easy consumption of alcohol such as RTD's, we probably wouldn't want the same rules applied to the advertising of a particularly fine Marlborough Chardonnay or Central Otago Pinot Noir.

So many of the things we consume, whether food or beverages, have risks. Would you want to see a warning on your packet of sausages because of the saturated fat? On the menu next to your Wagyu steak? Or outside every fish and chip or burger joint - a health warning about the risks of deep frying? Should KFC have a health warning on the risk of obesity and heart disease?

I'd suggest that the answer is no, despite us wanting people to make better decisions around what they eat and drink. 

At the heart of this is that old chestnut - education. 

The same sort of education that has me applying sunscreen more regularly and avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day. 

The same education that reminds us why we shouldn't smoke and to swim between the flags. 

But perhaps, given the stats we have on the dangers of alcohol, adding something to the pregnancy warning to address long term health risks might be okay - but as for ramming it down our throats with graphic, fear inducing labels on every bottle of beer and wine... no thanks!

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