What is the current alcohol labelling practice in the WHO European region and what are barriers and facilitators to development and implementation of alcohol labelling policy? / Eva Jane Llopis, [and four others].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Llopis, Eva Jane, author, issuing body.

Series:

Health Evidence Network synthesis report ; Number 68.

Health Evidence Network synthesis report ; Number 68

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Alcoholic beverages.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 97 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Copenhagen : WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2020.

Summary:

The WHO European Region has the highest levels of alcohol consumption per capita in the world, yet alcohol labelling, a WHO-recommended practice that provides consumer information on the ingredients, nutritional values and harms of alcohol, is not mandatory. This report synthesizes evidence on alcohol labelling practices in the Region and aims to describe factors affecting implementation. To date, the introduction of alcohol labelling policy as part of a larger package of alcohol policy measures created with strong political support and consumer pressure has proved successful in providing consumers with information, although practices have been hindered by slow procedures in some parts of the Region, opposition from international institutions and the alcohol industry, and the lack of set labelling specifications and monitoring activities. Policy considerations for the development of successful labelling legislation should ideally address both health information and nutritional information, ensure regulated message presentation and implement independent monitoring and evaluation of measures.

Contents:

ABBREVIATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

1.2. Methodology

2. RESULTS

2.1. National legislation on labelling for alcoholic beverages

2.2. Industry-led voluntary commitments on labelling for alcoholic beverages

2.3. Monitoring implementation of alcohol labelling

2.4. Alignment of labelling practices with WHO recommendations

2.5. Factors supporting the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks for alcohol labelling

2.6. Factors hindering the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks for alcohol labelling

2.6.1. Opposition from international organizations and their members

2.6.2. Opposition and lobbying from the alcohol industry

2.6.3. Legislative processes at country level slowed down by international procedures

2.6.4. Economic and cultural arguments opposing the introduction of alcohol labelling

2.6.5. Lack of precise specifications for message appearance on the label

2.6.6. Lack of monitoring and enforcement of initiatives

3. DISCUSSION

3.1. Strengths and limitations of this review

3.2. Ensuring the rights to consumer information through labelling

3.3. Ensuring adequate and independent monitoring

3.4. Policy considerations

4. CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES

ANNEX 1. SEARCH STRATEGY

ANNEX 2. NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION LABELLING LEGISLATION AND COMMITMENTS FOR COUNTRIES AND INDUSTRIES.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.