To the editor: Sure, a most cancers warning label on alcohol could be a good suggestion. (“Why the U.S. surgeon general wants cancer warning labels on alcoholic drinks,” Jan. 3)
But when we wish to significantly deal with the entire injury brought on by ingesting, it will be a fair higher thought to cease permitting the promoting of alcohol. There shall be large opposition to this concept, however past the doable cancer-causing results, think about additionally the social and authorized issues attributed to alcohol consumption.
We tried outlawing alcohol totally, and that didn’t work. However have a look at what occurred with smoking when tobacco promoting was considerably curtailed: Deaths from lung most cancers dropped dramatically.
Folks will proceed to drink alcohol, however why enable persuasive promoting to drive excessive ranges of consumption and the entire ensuing issues corresponding to drunk driving?
Peter Marquard, Northridge
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To the editor: As an advocate for protecting public well being coverage, I applaud U.S. Surgeon Gen. Dr. Vivek Murthy’s succinct advisory on most cancers threat.
I wish to emphasize the significance of overhauling the federal alcohol warning label. It was established a era in the past and doesn’t adhere to any of the accepted gold requirements of efficient well being communication, together with:
- Clear and legible typeface.
- Colours and graphical parts.
- Revolving advisories to forestall “warning fatigue.”
Furthermore, the present statute prohibits states from requiring warning labels extra strident, in content material or kind, than the federal one. This overrides the need of California voters as expressed in Proposition 65, and is why we see most cancers warning stickers utilized to flip-flops and flat-pack furnishings, however by no means liquor bottles.
My group Alcohol Justice is looking on California’s congressional delegation to spearhead laws revising the federal warning label and eradicating preemption of stricter state necessities. This is able to not solely present life-saving info to our residents, but additionally advance the evidence-based public well being practices on which California has lengthy been a frontrunner.
Carson Benowitz-Fredericks, San Rafael
The author is analysis director for Alcohol Justice.
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To the editor: Whereas folding up my card desk lately, I seen a sticker on the underside stating that the desk contained supplies identified to the federal government to trigger most cancers.
I shall heretofore ignore all notices about substances which will trigger most cancers. Cease crying wolf.
John Reeve, West Hills
