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Doctors warn about alcohol in popular herbal remedies

Doctors have expressed concern about what they call a legal loophole in alcohol regulations, saying that popular herbal re-medies should be regulated as alcoholic beverages and not pharmaceutical products.

"Herbal liquors such as Sanyo Whisbih (維士比) and Paolyta B (保力達B) aren't legally regulated as alcoholic beverages, although they have an alcohol content of 8 to 10 percent, twice that of beer," said Ko Yin-ching (葛應欽), a researcher at the National Health Research Institute.

Herbal liquors are commonly sold in drug stores and frequently advertised as health supplements. They can be purchased over the counter by consumers of all ages.

Ko said that aside from by-passing age regulations, herbal liquors also avoid advertisement regulations.

"For example, television commercials advertising alcoholic beverages cannot be aired until after 9pm, but commercials for these herbal liquors are aired at all hours of the day," Ko said.

"These herbal liquors also avoid the taxes imposed under the Tobacco and Liquor Law (湮酒稅法)," said Chen Chun-hsin (陳俊興), a doctor at Taipei's Wan Fang Hospital.

Yu Wan-nan (余萬能), deputy director-general of the Bureau of Pharmaceutical Affairs, said that herbal liquors are legally categorized as medicine instead of an alcoholic beverage, because their primary active ingredient is not alcohol.

"Herbal liquors are regulated by the Department of Health. All commercials have to be licensed before they can be aired and must clearly state that the products should be used as directed. Furthermore, manufacturers cannot exaggerate claims about the effects of their products," he said.

Although displaying the alcohol content of herbal remedies on the packaging is not required by law, Yu said that usage instructions for these supplements must be supplied.

Drug stores must also provide consumers with information on how to use the product, he said.

"A bigger problem with the abuse of herbal liquors is that they have a high vitamin content. If they are not used properly, they can harm the kidneys and liver," Yu said.

He said that the department would take action against commercials that attempt to hide or avoid proper usage warnings.
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