SYDNEY (AP) -- Australia's liquor industry has launched a voluntary program to label its products with health warnings.
The move announced Tuesday is possibly aimed at pre-empting future criticism that alcohol makers are contributing to a growing problem of excessive drinking that has become part of the national culture.
Trish Worth of DrinkWise Australia, a group funded by the alcohol industry, says about 80 percent of alcohol products in the country including beer, wine and spirits will carry the warnings.
She told reporters Tuesday that the messages will primarily be aimed at teenagers and pregnant women.
She says the first few products with warning labels are already in stores but most others will introduce them gradually over the next few months.
