The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the state and central governments, asking them to respond to a petition that calls for cancer warnings on alcohol bottles. The petition was filed by social activist Yash Chilwar, who believes that adding these warnings could help reduce the harmful effects of alcohol and create a more informed society.
The petition points out that the World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled alcohol as a cancer-causing substance and that the U.S. Surgeon General has said it causes at least seven types of cancer. Chilwar’s petition asks the government and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to require cancer warnings on alcohol bottles.
Chilwar’s lawyer, Pooja Phangekar, told the court that the government has a responsibility to protect public health, as outlined in the Constitution. She also mentioned that state governments have the power to make laws about the production and sale of alcohol.
The petition cites reports from WHO and the Pan American Health Organization, which say alcohol use has led to over 3 million deaths worldwide. It also refers to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report linking alcohol to cancer and notes that countries like Ireland and South Korea have already introduced cancer warning labels on alcohol.”
