Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Central and State governments, along with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), to respond to a PIL seeking mandatory cancer-warning labels on alcohol bottles.
A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre was hearing the plea filed by 24-year-old Pune resident Yash Chilwar, who argued that the absence of cancer warnings adds to health risks associated with alcohol consumption. The petition emphasized that consumers have a right to complete and accurate information about the products they consume.
The PIL cited a June 25, 2024, report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization, which linked alcohol consumption to over 3 million deaths and called for urgent intervention. WHO has classified alcohol as a Class I carcinogen, yet this information is missing from bottle labels.
The plea noted that countries like Ireland and South Korea have already mandated such warnings. It also referred to an advisory by the US surgeon-general stating that alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, making warning labels essential.
Relying on Article 47 of the Constitution — which urges the state to prohibit intoxicating substances harmful to health — the petition argued that cancer warnings are a necessity, not just a label. It contended that awareness of alcohol-related health hazards could significantly reduce consumption.
The plea highlighted that “dangerous products” like cigarettes and tobacco carry cancer-warning labels and urged similar measures for alcohol to mitigate its ill effects. It sought a directive to the Centre to frame rules ensuring the time-bound implementation of cancer warnings on alcohol bottles. The court has asked the authorities to file their responses.
