Will diseased livers soon be plastered on beer bottles? Lawyer claims fast food and alcohol will be next to feature graphic cigarette packet-style health warnings
- Warning labels on junk food and soft drink could be introduced in Australia
- Lawyer for British American Tobacco says changes to cigarette labelling often precedes changes to packaging on other products
- The Australian government introduced tobacco plain-packaging in 2012
Beer bottles labelled with pictures of cirrhosis-affected livers and graphic health warnings on junk food and soft drink could be introduced in Australia, a lawyer for British American Tobacco says.
Benjamin Rubinstein, a senior partner at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, said changes to tobacco labelling often preceded changes to packaging on other products, Fairfax reported.
Mr Rubinstein said health warnings on alcohol and junk food could be introduced by Australian health regulators.
Scroll down for video
Health warnings like those on cigarette packs could be introduced to alcohol and junk food, a lawyer claims
'I think there have been rumbling among the public health community about what's next: is it just tobacco? What about sugary foods? Fatty foods? What about alcohol?' Mr Rubinstein told Fairfax.
'Often tobacco, whether it's litigation or regulation, is the canary in the coal mine and I think public health authorities rightly want to encourage healthier lifestyles and there are a variety of ways they can do that.
Share this article
'And of course there are limits – be they free speech limits or property rights – on what they can do.'
Mr Rubinstein, who successfully represented British American Tobacco in a U.S. civil racketeering lawsuit, has been in Australia holding briefings with Herbert Smith Freehills clients.
Mr Rubinstein's law firm is currently battling the World Health Organisation over plain packaging on cigarettes on behalf of British American Tobacco.
Earlier this year health advocate Aaron Schultz stirred up debate around fast food plain packaging, posting this image to his Facebook page
Benjamin Rubinstein, a senior partner at law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, said changes to tobacco labelling often preceded changes to packaging on other products
The Australian government introduced strict cigarette branding laws in 2012, with other countries including Ireland following suit this year.
A set of 14 studies published in the British Medical Journal in March found that Australia's plain packaging laws have made smoking less appealing – particularly among teenagers and young adults.
Earlier this year Australian health advocate Aaron Schultz – founder of the Game Changer movement to get rid of unhealthy food ads in sport – proposed tobacco-style health warnings on fast food.
Mr Schultz posted an image of a Big Mac box labelled with the words 'BIG MACS MAKE BIG CHILDREN' to his Game Changer Facebook page in an attempt to fire up debate.
'Just like a cigarette packet demonstrates the causes of cigarette smoking and its damages, this image demonstrates what the fast food product can do to the human body,' Mr Schultz said.
Most watched News videos
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Shocking moment passenger curses at Mayor Eric Adams on Delta flight
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Columbia protester calls Jewish donor 'a f***ing Nazi'
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
