FOREWORD Public awareness of health hazards and consumers' rights to information about the products they purchase are among the public policy concerns that have reached the forefront of our national consciousness during the 1970's. The Senate, on May 7, 1979, passed an amendment requiring consumer health warnings on certain alcoholic beverages, bringing into legislative focus the public policy debate over effective means of informing consumers of health hazards, including birth defects, associated with alcohol abuse. This report on consumer health warnings for alcoholic beverages and related issues has been prepared by the staff of the Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. It will be of significant assistance to Congress in considering these issues. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., and Human Resources. (III) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES, Hon. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., Chairman, Committee on Labor and Human Resources, 4230 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: On May 7, 1979, the Senate passed an amendment to require a health warning label on beverages containing more than 24 percent alcohol. Related proposals are pending before the Senate Committees on Labor and Human Resources and on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; in the House of Representatives; and in the executive branch. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, I have solicited public comments on consumer health warnings for alcoholic beverages and related issues. The Subcommittee has also scheduled hearings on these issues for September 14, 1979. A detailed report on public response with respect to these issues and on their legislative, bureaucratic, and political background has been compiled by the Subcommittee staff. Because I believe this report would be of use to the Congress and others in considering these vital consumer health issues, I am transmitting it to you for printing as a Committee document. Sincerely, DONALD W. RIEGLE, Jr., Chairman, Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. (V) |