Hong Kong doctors want ban on sale of alcohol to under-18s
Doctors want a ban on the sale of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18, and health warning labels placed on all alcohol for sale in shops
A ban on the sale of alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 should be introduced in Hong Kong to bring it into line with normal practice across the developed world, according to the city’s largest doctors’ group.
The Hong Kong Medical Association has also called for all alcohol on sale to carry health warning labels. A survey of the public they carried out showed overwhelming support for the introduction of both measures.
The association said 77 per cent of the 1,003 people polled supported the moves, adding that it was important to warn the public that there is no safe limit for alcohol – especially when it came to young people.
“For the sake of the public’s health, it is time we take this one small step to improve the current situation,” said Dr Chow Pak-chin, vice president of the Medical Association.
Public health professor Lam Tai-hing of the University of Hong Kong agreed, saying the city’s alcohol control measures were lax when compared with those in other developed countries.
The World Health Organisation says alcohol abuse kills millions worldwide and is also the third leading risk factor for poor health globally.