A new petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court regarding the serious impact on the health of alcohol, demanding the government to make cancer warning compulsory on liquor bottles. This petition has been filed by Pune social activist Yash Chilwar, demanding the Central Government, Government of Maharashtra and Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) to take necessary steps in this subject.
What is the plea of the petitioner?
The petitioner says that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared liquor as ‘class I carcinogen’, but this information is not being properly transported to the general public.
According to the report of the Bar and Bench, the petition stated that:
Alcohol consumption and cancer are directly related, but this fact is not mentioned in large and clear letters on bottles.
Consumers have the right to know how the product they are buying, how can they affect their health.
Citing the recent report of the US Surgeon General, alcohol consumption increases the risk of seven types of cancer, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer, mouth, throat, esophagus, heart and larynx.
What has been demanded in the petition?
The petitioner has requested the court that:
- Warnings like ‘alcohol can cause cancer can cause cancer’ on alcohol bottles be mandatory.
- The government should be instructed to make concrete rules in this regard.
- A fixed deadline should be set to implement this decision.
An example of other countries
The petition also stated that in many countries like Ireland and South Korea, cancer warnings have already been made mandatory on liquor bottles. In India too, there is a dire need to implement such rules, so that awareness about the side effects of alcohol can be increased and people can be made aware of its health hazards.
