Senators complained yesterday.

And Senate Vice-President Sen. Norma Astwood (Ind) pointed out The Alcohol Advertisement (Health Warning) Act 1993 does not even state how big the warning should be or where it should be placed.

"I would think Government would want a mimimum size proportional to the size of the ad, and it should not be hidden in an ad in such a way that most would be unable to focus on it,'' Sen. Astwood said.

The Act, which passed without objection, requires alcohol advertisements in local publications to include the warning: "Excessive alcohol consumption may be harmful to your health.'' Government Senate Leader the Hon. Michael Winfield , said he understood the feeling the warning should be expressed more strongly.

"I can assure Senators that in future it will be,'' he said. The Act "should be regarded not as the end, but the beginning of Bermuda taking a serious look at its print alcohol advertising''.

No regulations for the Act were planned, and Sen. Astwood's comments about the lack of size requirements were "something we will take under advisement'', he said.

"We will very quickly form an impression of whether the people responsible for alcohol advertising are taking it seriously or not,'' he said. If not, "changes will have to be made''.

Senate Opposition Leader Alex Scott said alcohol was "a dangerous product,'' and its sale was "big, big business''.

The warning was "a step in the right direction,'' but would have "very limited impact on the consumption and distribution of alcohol''.

The PLP would take a different approach. As well as a warning label, the PLP "would give very serious consideration to conducting a campaign of public education'', Sen. Scott said.

One in 11 Bermudians had alcohol problems and as many as 30 percent had "difficulty with alcohol''.

As a teenager, Sen. Scott recalled trying tequila for the first time at the Princess Hotel and later being "rescued from the basin'' in the hotel washroom. "My head was under the water,'' he said.

"I realised then that alcohol was a serious companion.'' Being in the advertising business, Sen. Scott said he was sure the Act would be ineffective. "The warning will be so small by comparison, and the design can always be such to defeat the intent.'' Instead, society should decide "drinking is not a desirable activity'', as happened with smoking, he said.

Independent Sen. Joe Johnson said "anything including alcohol taken to excess is hazardous'', but he could not agree with an outright ban.

Sen. Johnson questioned whether the Act would also apply to alcohol displays in supermarkets and bars, and whether that was Government's intent.

Sen. Trevor Woolridge (PLP) said while a red ribbon campaign by the Road Safety Council had great effect in reducing impaired driving several Christmases ago, the warning would "do absolutely nothing''.

"We must also accompany this health warning with a real (education) campaign by what can be considered an objective party -- the Government,'' he said.

Sen. Jerome Dill (UBP) said he was chairman of the Road Safety Council's advertising committee when it launched the red ribbons, and he had to agree with Sen. Woolridge the campaign "was brilliant''.

Unlike the PLP, the UBP believed Government could not do everything, he said.

"This Government takes the view that obviously it needs to network with community organisations if we're going to make any progress on social issues.'' Sen. Astwood wondered how accurate the warning was. The words "may be'' should be replaced with "is,'' she said.

Alcohol disrupted families and workplaces.

While the Act would allow alcohol companies to continue to lend their names to sporting events without including an alcohol warning, "I had particular difficulty with sponsors' names being given on sports fields,'' she said.

Many sports events were attended by large numbers of young people, and "persons attending sporting events are more likely to be relaxed and less likely to exercise good judgment and self control.'' Sen. Ira Philip (PLP) said the warning should be targeted at pregnant women.

Many studies had shown even a tiny amount of alcohol could have very harmful effects on the fetuses of some women.

In response, Sen. Winfield said concerns expressed were valid, but it was possible to overreact on the subject of alcohol. "We have to recognise that it is legal in Bermuda,'' he said.

And while tobacco smoke harmed others, exhalation of alcohol fumes did not.

Parents who drank sent a mixed message to young people, that some alcohol was alright, but too much was not.

Responding to Sen. Johnson's concern, he said the Act would not apply to alcohol displays.

On allowing sports sponsorships without an alcohol warning, Government felt "the positives of that sponsorship outweighed the negatives,'' he said.

"This is a significant step forward on one element of the battle and more will be forthcoming,'' he said. "The fight against excessive alcohol use must continue.''