Abstract: An alkali release solution contains a basic compound, a polyoxyalkylene alkyl derivative, and water, for releasing a printed layer formed on a base material and constituted by a gravure printing ink composition for label surface printing that satisfies a or b below: a) containing no vinyl chloride resin, wherein the composition contains a pigment, a binder resin containing cellulose resin and urethane resin, and an organic solvent, wherein the ratio by mass of the solids content of polyurethane resin and cellulose resin is 5/95 to 95/5; or b) containing a vinyl chloride resin, the composition contains a pigment, a vinyl chloride resin, and a polyurethane resin, wherein the content of the vinyl chloride resin, based on the ratio by mass of the solids content of vinyl chloride resin and urethane resin, is 1.73 parts by mass or lower relative to the urethane resin representing 1.00 part by mass.