May 28, 1999 -- In a story dated May 27, 1999, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Australia and New Zealand are facing the prospect of one of the most odious warning labels in the world showing up on their beer, wine and spirits bottles.

According to the Herald, the Australian New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) has accepted an application from the Society Without Alcohol (SWAT) lobby group to require that the warning, "This product contains alcohol. Alcohol is a dangerous drug," be added to all beverage alcohol container labels. The ANZFA will now accept public comment on the matter before deciding on whether to carry the issue to the next level, says the Herald. If it is accepted, the two countries would become the tenth and eleventh in the world to require warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

As a person who consumes alcohol (usually beer or wine) on a more-or-less daily basis, I find alcohol warning labels in general demeaning and silly, and view this particular proposal as remarkably offensive. Am I sipping a "dangerous drug" when I have a glass of beer with my dinner? Do I place myself at serious risk if I celebrate the completion of a particularly arduous task with a glass of Champagne? Of course not!

In recent years, study after study has proved that moderate alcohol consumption is at worst completely safe and most likely beneficial. Placed in such light, the idea of the proposed Australia/New Zealand warning is not only ludicrous, but also potentially harmful, as it might discourage people from an activity that could be to their benefit.

World of Beer calls on all concerned beer aficionados from Australia and New Zealand to file a statement with the ANZFA as soon as possible, and help to nip this insane proposal in the bud.

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