New booze labels in Yukon warn of cancer risk from drinking

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(CBC News) — Yukon is as a testing ground for some new types of labels on alcohol bottles, that warn of cancer risks associated with drinking, and encourage better habits.

Two new labels were unveiled at the Whitehorse Liquor Store on Wednesday. They’ll be affixed to all bottles and cans sold in the territory over the next eight months, as part of an ongoing Health Canada research project.

“Yukon has a chance to be a leader in Canada, as well as internationally, to demonstrate the potential benefits of labelling alcohol containers,” said Brendan Hanley, the territory’s chief medical officer of health.

“By seeing these labels repeatedly, and in their variety, we hope that there will be increasing familiarity with Canada’s low-risk drinking guidelines.”

Hanley notes Yukon tends to have higher rates of drinking, including by youth, than most of Canada, and also has relatively high rates of alcohol-related violence. (…)

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