Foto: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
LYNN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Local liquor store owners do not seem to be worried about a possible new warning label on their products.
In early January, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory about the links between alcohol consumption and cancer, recommending a new warning label for alcoholic beverages. The current warning label states that alcohol “may cause health problems,” but has not been changed since it was implemented in 1988.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel surveyed local liquor store owners about the recommendation, which would only come to pass with Congressional approval. Most said they were not worried about any potential impacts, including Lynnway Liquors owner Cliff Ansara.
“If you’re going to have three to four drinks, it’s going to be a problem,” said Ansara. “But that’s a problem with anything.”
While acknowledging the risks of overconsumption, Ansara said an additional warning would be too small to impact sales.
“I think after three months, it’s just going to go back to normal,” said Ansara.
His only concern would be if regulators took a similar approach to the massive warning labels found on packs of cigarettes in other countries. Those warnings often include graphic pictures of the health impacts associated with smoking.
“If they do that to alcohol, we could definitely say that they’re making a huge statement and the industry will have a problem on its hands,” said Ansara.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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