Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly (1/6/2011) on 1/6/2011 at 10:41 AM (Not published)
After cigarette, is plain packaging of alcohol next?
I must stress again - I am not a smoker, and do not like the smell of cigarette smoke. Neither I nor anyone I know well has any interest in the industry or related industries.
My protest is about the fundamental right of free speech, and freedom in advertising. It is hypocritical to use cigarettes as a scapegoat, while other harmful products enjoy the freedom of damaging private and public health without governmental interference.
Many smokers do die of cancers and other diseases, but many do not. Similarly, many alcohol drinkers die of some form of cancers or diseases, too.
The effect of excessive consumption of alcohol has more detrimental effects. Once someone gets drunk, all hell breaks loose. They abuse others physically and emotionally. Once they get behind the steering wheel of a car, there is a good chance to discover them in a hospital ICU or death notices in the newspapers.
Until plain packaging comes into force, there are a lot of health warnings and ghastly pictures on the cigarette labels. There are no such warnings or pictures on cans or bottles of alcohol. If the legislators and health do-gooders are serious about saving lives and the health wellbeing of humankind, treatment of alcohol sale and promotion should be no different from that of cigarette.
So, the question is, will we see the day when plain packaging applies to alcohol?
After cigarette, is plain packaging of alcohol next?
I must stress again - I am not a smoker, and do not like the smell of cigarette smoke. Neither I nor anyone I know well has any interest in the industry or related industries.
My protest is about the fundamental right of free speech, and freedom in advertising. It is hypocritical to use cigarettes as a scapegoat, while other harmful products enjoy the freedom of damaging private and public health without governmental interference.
Many smokers do die of cancers and other diseases, but many do not. Similarly, many alcohol drinkers die of some form of cancers or diseases, too.
The effect of excessive consumption of alcohol has more detrimental effects. Once someone gets drunk, all hell breaks loose. They abuse others physically and emotionally. Once they get behind the steering wheel of a car, there is a good chance to discover them in a hospital ICU or death notices in the newspapers.
Until plain packaging comes into force, there are a lot of health warnings and ghastly pictures on the cigarette labels. There are no such warnings or pictures on cans or bottles of alcohol. If the legislators and health do-gooders are serious about saving lives and the health wellbeing of humankind, treatment of alcohol sale and promotion should be no different from that of cigarette.
So, the question is, will we see the day when plain packaging applies to alcohol?