Alcoholic beverages should carry clearly visible statutory warning with large font sizes: FSSAI

New Delhi, Feb 6 (KNN) In the 13^th meeting of Scientific Panel on Water and Beverages, the panel recommended that the font size of statutory warning on alcoholic beverages with pack size up to 200ml shall be not less than 1.5 mm, while those with pack size above 200ml, the font size shall not be less than 3 mm, said Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).

Citing Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages Standards) Regulations, 2018, the FSSAI in an order dated March 19, 2018 said the warning "Consumption of alcohol is injurious to health. Be safe - Don't drink and drive" should be printed on the labels of alcoholic beverages with the font size of not less than 3 mm.

As per this notification, a transition period up to April 1, 2019 was given to the Food Business Operators (FBOs) to comply with these regulations.

Meanwhile, representations were received from various stakeholders in respect of the challenges in complying with requirement of the above mentioned font size (i.e. 3 mm) on smaller packs of alcoholic beverages.

The issue was discussed in the 13th meeting of Scientific Panel on Water and Beverages and after detailed deliberations Scientific Panel recommended “For Alcoholic Beverages having pack size up to 200ml, the font size of statutory warning shall be not less than 1.5 mm; for Alcoholic Beverages having pack size above 200m!, the font size of statutory warning shall be not less than 3 mm.”