- However, alcohol sold in sachets resembling fruit purees popular among children has appeared on the Polish market.
- MP Jan Warzecha wonders whether such a sale is legal.
MP Jan Warzecha drew the attention of the Minister of Health to a new phenomenon in Polish shops – alcohol in sachets.
Jan Warzecha writes that Polish law contains a regulation that obliges producers of alcoholic beverages to label them clearly so that potential buyers can easily identify the product as alcoholic. It is mandatory to use labels that clearly distinguish these substances from non-alcoholic products.
Alcohol in sachets resembles mousses for children. MP's appeal
The MP, citing press reports, notes that alcohol has appeared on the market sold in sachets that are very similar to the fruit purees popular among children.
– This disturbing trend (alcohol sold in sachets – ed.) poses a serious threat, increasing the risk of accidental alcohol consumption by minors, which is completely unacceptable. The growing availability of such products in online stores raises justified concerns about the health and safety of young people in Poland. In connection with the above, it is necessary to implement more restrictive control mechanisms, such as mandatory identity verification by the courier upon receipt of the parcel and to refine the regulations on the labeling and sale of alcohol products, especially in the virtual space – emphasizes MP Jan Warzecha.
Will the Ministry of Health intervene in this matter? Will there be regulations that will oblige buyers to personally collect alcohol purchased online, which could limit the availability of these products to young people?
Alcohol in sachets. MZ position
Wojciech Konieczny, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health, discussed the topic.
He writes that, in the light of the law, alcoholic beverages are delivered to places of sale only in closed containers, with the name of the manufacturer, type and quantity of the beverage and its strength marked. Wojciech Konieczny, however, points out that the Ministry of Development deals with this issue.
– Nevertheless, in the analyzed issue concerning the compliance of the introduced packaging with the provisions of the law, it is also worth taking into account the provisions of the Act of 7 May 2009 on pre-packaged goods implementing, among others, the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing rules on nominal quantities of products in unit packages, which specifies in Annex No. 1 the permissible nominal quantities of beverages
alcoholic beverages. These regulations are within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Development and Technology, he explains.
As regards the sale of alcoholic beverages over the Internet, the current provisions of the Act clearly define the places where alcoholic beverages may be sold.
– Enabling the sale of alcoholic beverages via the Internet would increase the availability and expand the sales channels of alcoholic beverages, which from the point of view of public health should be assessed negatively – emphasizes Wojciech Konieczny.
