Alcohol News

The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI) have recently issued a statement, and supporting video advertorial on social media, again critical of the measures proposed in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. The piece criticises the measures as seeking the demise of an 'iconic' television advert for an alcoholic beverage, and highlights the aspects that may be lost. The measures within the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill do not prohibit any drinks producer from advertising their product. What the Bill seeks to... Full Story

New opinion poll shows overwhelming public support for Government action to curb alcohol marketing that appeals to young people   82% of people who support this action are Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporters   A new opinion poll commissioned by Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland shows strong support for Government action to curb alcohol marketing that appeals to young people.   The poll, conducted by Ireland Thinks, between 12 and 16th June among a sample of 1,300 adults across the... Full Story

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill contains a range of measures designed to work cohesively to reduce alcohol consumption in Ireland so lessening alcohol related harms. Implemented together, they will provide a reasonable, pragmatic means to achieving the ambition of this progressive public health initiative. The media industry, as the report outlines, warns that new advertising restrictions proposed in the Bill will 'cost the Irish media sector an estimated €20m a year'. This is again typical of the divisive language that... Full Story

The National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026 will focus on preventing cancer across Ireland's growing population, aims to diagnose cancer earlier, provide optimal care to patients and maximise the quality of life for who live with cancer.   Commenting on the Strategy, Eunan McKinney, Head of Communications and Advocacy at Alcohol Action Ireland, said: 'At Alcohol Action Ireland, we realise the anguish and loss that having cancer can bring but sadly we are also acutely aware of what role alcohol can contribute... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland today welcomed, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar's renewed commitment to completing passage of the Public Health Alcohol Bill. In his opening speech last evening on the nomination of government, An Taoiseach, established the immediate priorities of his government. In addressing the priorities for Health, he outlined that he had asked Minister Simon Harris, newly re-appointed Minister for Health, to: 'complete passage of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill through the Houses as soon as possible' For over 500 days... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland and EuroCare will today (Wednesday) host a policy seminar to discuss the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), currently before the EU institutions, which represents an important opportunity to strengthen measures to protect children from alcohol marketing. https://youtu.be/k8LHNw0xgJY Europe has one of the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the world and since the non-renewal of the EU Alcohol Strategy which expired in 2012, action to reduce alcohol harm has been effectively left to individual member states. The... Full Story