Marketing

Ireland to label alcoholic drinks with health warnings

There has been significant backlash to the new legislation from the drinks industry as far afield as the EU and the US
Consumers still achieve visibility by showing off their drink of choice on social media platforms. In essence, they’re able to down-trade financially without down-trading socially, states IWSR.

“This law is designed to give all of us as consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and health risks associated with consuming alcohol”

Ireland has passed legislation that requires alcoholic drinks products to feature comprehensive health warnings.

Signed into law by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and the remaining provisions of Section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act will take effect in May 2026.

The law provides that the labels of alcohol products will state the calorie content and grams of alcohol in the product.

Consumers will be warned about the risk of consuming alcohol when pregnant and will also warn of the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers from alcohol consumption. The labels will direct the consumer to the HSE website, www.askaboutalcohol.ie, for further information.

The three-year lead-in time built into the law in order to give businesses significant time to prepare for the change.

Ireland claims to be the first country in the world that will introduce such measures for alcoholic drinks.

There has been significant backlash the new legislations from the drinks industry as far afield as the EU and the US.

Meanwhile, Drinks Ireland said the government must explain why it is doing a solo run on alcohol labels, when the EU is already planning a harmonised approach to health labels and international processes have not concluded.

A notification process to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which is ongoing, saw comments and criticism raised by up to 10 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and Cuba.

“This law is designed to give all of us as consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and health risks associated with consuming alcohol,” said Minister Donnelly. “With that information, we can make an informed decision about our own alcohol consumption.

“Packaging of other food and drink products already contains health information and, where appropriate, health warnings. This law is bringing alcohol products into line with that.”

Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton added: “Everyone has a right to be told about the risks associated with a product before we consume it. This law is designed to ensure all consumers of alcohol have access to clear and concise information about the risks from alcohol.

“The medical evidence is clear that a cancer risk applies even at lower levels of alcohol consumption.”


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