Question reference: S6W-01393
- Asked by: Mercedes Villalba, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 12 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 26 July 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-36073 by Mairi Gougeon on 24 March 2021, what plans it has to ensure that it is a statutory requirement that alcohol labels include (a) the Chief Medical Officer's 14 units weekly low-risk drinking guidelines, (b) health warnings and (c) ingredients, should the forthcoming UK Government consultation fail to address all of these elements.
Answer
We remain committed to improving health messaging on alcohol products in Scotland. Our Alcohol Framework is clear that we expect producers to include the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk weekly guidelines of 14 units on product labels as well as nutritional information and health warnings. Information must be easily readable and on pack rather than provided elsewhere.
We, along with the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, are continuing discussions with the UK Government on their plans for calorie labelling on alcohol products in England, in order to explore options for approaching alcohol labelling requirements on a four-nations basis. We would consider taking action on a unilateral Scottish basis if an effective four nations approach cannot be agreed.