A group of 12 alcoholics, aged from 18 to 60, are attempting to sue drink manufacturers for not warning them sufficiently about the dangers of alcohol.

In the first legal challenge to the British drink industry, the group will be represented by Scottish solicitors, Ross Harper and are essentially making a twofold claim – that their lives have been ruined by alcohol addiction and that no warnings were given.

The firm believes that, if similar arguments are used to the successful prosecution of US tobacco firms, then it could be proved that drink manufacturers have not shown a duty of care with regards to warning the group of the dangers of addiction and its subsequent damage to their quality of life.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has repeatedly requested that health warnings should be displayed on alcoholic beverages in the UK and similar rules are already being proposed in Ireland. In the US, health warnings on alcoholic drinks have been lawfully required for over a decade.

If legal aid applications are successful, solicitors for the group could be presenting a test case before Edinburgh’s court of session within the very near future. Details: www.bma.org.uk