Majority of Britons support better alcohol labelling and higher age limit

A new opinion poll* has found strong support for the improved labelling of alcohol products, with 82% of the public believing that alcohol manufacturers should be required to provide detailed information about the number of alcohol units and calories contained in all alcoholic drinks. This high level of support was closely matched across the UK, across all age groups and across supporters of all political parties, with 85% of Conservative and 82% of Labour and 84% of LibDem voters supporting the measure. Those aged 18-34 and those over 55 years both gave a strong thumbs up to clearer labelling on alcohol.

A smaller majority (57%) of those questioned also favoured raising the legal age at which people can buy alcohol from 18 to 21.

However, there is much less public support for setting a minimum price for each unit of alcohol, opinion being divided 45% in favour, 44% opposed, with 11% undecided.

There was a clear majority against banning supermarket offers on alcohol such as ‘buy one get one free’ and ‘three for the price of two’. The figures were 41% in favour, 51% opposed with 8% undecided.

The opinion poll was carried out by YouGov for the Faculty of Public Health. Other public health policies with strong public support included making two hours of games or sport each week compulsory in all schools, a ‘traffic light’ system of food labelling, banning anyone from smoking in a car carrying children, and banning TV advertisements before 9pm for ‘junk foods’.

The Faculty of Public Health commissioned the survey to help inform the Coalition Government’s new public health strategy, and, in particular, the White Paper on public health expected later in the year.