UK to introduce mandatory warning labels on alcohol
The government has confirmed that it will move ahead with plans to introduce mandatory warning labels on alcohol, in line with similar warnings found on tobacco products.
Responding in a recent parliamentary Q&A, Labour MP Baroness Merron said that the government recognises alcohol as a public health issue which requires a multi-faceted approach that includes prevention, harm reduction and treatment.
“There are numerous independent resources available which frame alcohol through a public health lens and provide accurate and independent advice and guidance to increase awareness of risks and harms associated with alcohol consumption, protect health and promote wellbeing in relation to alcohol consumption, such as the National Health Service website, the All Our Health: Alcohol e-training in NHS England, and various pieces of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on alcohol,” she said.
Merron noted that the government’s new 10-Year Health Plan will extend these existing measures.
“The recently published 10-Year Health Plan includes a commitment to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages,” she said.
“A mandatory requirement will bring alcohol labelling in line with existing health and nutritional labelling requirements for tobacco, food and alcohol-free drinks. This will ensure greater public awareness of the health risks of alcohol consumption and help consumers make more informed, healthier choices.”
Restrictions on junk food adverts
Merron’s comments come as the UK is set to introduce new laws from 5 January 2026 that will significantly affect the implementation of sponsorship deals for less healthy food and drink products.
Under the new restrictions, online advertising, which includes paid-for online advertisements for identifiable less healthy food and drink products, will be prohibited in the UK.
January will also see the introduction of TV watershed restrictions. Under these restrictions, ads for identifiable less healthy products must not appear on TV or regulated video-on-demand platforms between 5:30 am and 9:00 pm.
Foods and drinks will be assessed using the UK government’s Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM). Products scoring above certain thresholds, and within particular categories of products, will then be classified as ‘less healthy’.
Most, but not all, products high in fat sugar salt (HFSS) will also be classified as less healthy foods or drinks.
