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Today (Friday, 20 July) marks the close of the EU Commission’s TRIS notification procedure on Ireland’s amended Public Health Alcohol legislation, and the ending of the ‘Standstill’ period that delayed enactment of the legislation. In commending the progressive action adopted by the Irish Government, and the preventative measures within the Public Health Alcohol Bill, many leading public health organisations across Europe have submitted firm contributions validating the actions being proposed. Crucially, they reaffirm the established link between alcohol consumption and... Full Story

Public Health Alcohol Bill takes another decisive step closer to enactment completing Committee Stage today before the Select Health Committee.   Alcohol Action Ireland today welcomed the progress being made by the Oireachtas on the Bill and noted its completion of the Committee Stage before Dáil Éireann’s Select Committee on Health. The Bill will now go to Report and Final Stages in Dáil Éireann, probably early in the Autumn session and before Budget 2019.  Commenting on the advancement of the... Full Story

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organisation, has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen. (IARC, 1988) The IARC has stated there is a causal link between alcohol and cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colon, rectum and female breast. (IARC) In Ireland, Alcohol is responsible for 1 in 8 Breast Cancers (HSE). Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the most common cause of cancer death in... Full Story

Dáil Éireann's Select Committee on Health to take Public Health Alcohol Bill Committee Stage, Wednesday 20thJune, and to consider yet further dilution of the Bill’s provisions. Alcohol Action Ireland today (Wednesday, 20 June) has called for an end to alcohol industry’s persistent lobbying of the Oireachtas on the provisions of the Public Health Alcohol Bill. The Bill appears before the Select Committee on Health today, over 900 days after having commenced its legislative passage. The Committee’s Members will consider a... Full Story

As this week (28 May) marks the passing of 900 days since the Public Health Alcohol Bill began its legislative passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas, Alcohol Action Ireland has called on the Minister for Health, Simon Harris TD, to renew his focus and prioritise the legislation. Over that time, sadly the shocking levels of alcohol related harms have continued unabated: 2,700 deaths were alcohol related; that is three per day. 9,894 cases of alcohol related self-harm have been... Full Story

In response to the recent comments from the Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland (ABFI: 7th May), Alcohol Action Ireland have refuted the assertion that the EU Commission has stated that Ireland’s proposed measures, as outlined in the Public Health Alcohol Bill, ‘go beyond what is required to effectively tackle alcohol misuse’. In its ‘Comments’ to the Government of Ireland, the EU Commission makes clear its concerns are primarily regarding the possible impact on the export of alcoholic beverages to Ireland,... Full Story

Scottish introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing will save lives  Alcohol Action Ireland today (1st May) welcomed the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) on alcohol in Scotland. This comes after what has been an incredible, six-year battle against ‘big alcohol’ who sought, at every opportunity, to derail the Scottish government’s public health policy.  The introduction of MUP in Scotland is forecasted to save over 50 lives in year one of implementation. Alcohol Focus Scotland have said that MUP will help... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland note the close of the EU Commission's TRIS notification procedure [23.59, Friday 20th April] on Ireland's amended Public Health alcohol legislation. While the 'Comments' received from Member States such as Denmark, France, Greece, Romania Slovakia and United Kingdom will be of interest, we note that the Commission has opted, at this point, to make comment only on the proposed amendments to the Bill, as passed by Seanad Éireann last December. While these Comments and the Detailed Opinion from Member States' Portugal and Italy... Full Story