Calls for Health Labels On Alcohol In The North East

Balance, is calling for health information to be mandatory on alcohol labels.

The North East Alcohol Office say alcohol is linked to more than 60 medical conditions including cancer but currently more than one in three people in the North East are drinking at increasing and high risk levels and awareness of the associated health harms in the region is low.

The group told Metro Radio 73% of people do not associate alcohol with breast cancer while 53% do not associate alcohol with mouth and throat cancer.

Balance is calling for new labelling the measure to increase the awareness of the health harms associated with alcohol consumption, similar to cigarettes. To ensure people are given the health information to make their own informed choices. The group say it's a measure which is supported by 4 out of 5 people in the North East

Sue Taylor is from Balance and told Metro Radio it's a huge concern;

"We carry out an annual survey, and around forty five percent of the North East population drink to increasing or higher risk levels, which means that actually they might be putting themselves in some risk of alcohol related harm. Potentially about three quarters of a million people in the North East are at risk of alcohol related health harm so it is a big issue. Actually we believe they have the right to know that alcohol can cause these kind of health problems.