Alcohol News

Alcohol Action Ireland today welcomed the commencement of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill before Dáil Éireann this evening (6th Feb). This marks a major milestone for the proposed legislation especially at a time when alcohol consumption in Ireland continues to rise and alcohol harms have never been more pronounced. Regrettably over the duration of the two-year legislative delay experienced so far, our national consumption levels of alcohol have continued to rise, a further 2100 lives have been lost to alcohol... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland applaud the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament) who yesterday (20 Dec) passed innovative and progressive public health measures that will further restrict alcohol sales and advertising conditions in Estonia. Like Ireland, Estonia has prioritised the protection of public health and sought to reduce the social, economic and health damage caused by alcohol consumption. The measures passed very much reflect the approach adopted by Ireland in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. It will see significant changes to how, where... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) have expressed disappointment on the recent media commentary from alcohol industry groups criticising the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, and more notably the intervention of IBEC, decrying its exclusion from formulating public alcohol policy.   ABFI (Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland) and its affiliate, the Irish Wine Association, have again criticised the public health measures within the Bill and specifically measures on health labelling. The introduction of a statutory basis for health labelling on all alcohol products,... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland today welcomed the passage of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, 2015, through Seanad Éireann. This marks a significant milestone for the proposed legislation especially at a time when alcohol consumption in Ireland continues to rise and alcohol harms have never been more pronounced.  Commenting on the final set of concessions conceded by Minister Harris to the business representative group, the RRAI and other retail organisations, Eunan McKinney, Head of Communications and Advocacy at Alcohol Action Ireland said: ... Full Story

This week (20-24 November) marks the fifth year of European Awareness Week on Alcohol Related Harm (AWARH). The 2017 AWARH aims to galzanise EU and national policy makers into action to address alcohol related harm in Europe. The 2017 theme is “Alcohol and Cancer” and the focus is on highlighting the avoidable risk alcohol consumption poses with regards to cancer. Research across the EU highlights that 1 in 5 people do not believe that there is a link between cancer... Full Story

Alcohol Action Ireland welcomes with the decision of the UK Supreme Court - it represents a significant victory for public health   Alcohol Action Ireland today (Wednesday 15 Nov) welcomed the judgement from the UK Supreme Court, unanimously dismissing the appeal of the Scotch Whisky Association and others, that challenged the lawfulness of the Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act, 2012.   The Justices of the Court state that the measures proposed do not breach EU law and that minimum pricing... Full Story

Reflecting on this week’s debate on the Public Health Alcohol Bill in Seanad Éireann, concluding Committee Stage, Alcohol Action Ireland believe it is clear there is now a firm resolve amongst Senators who, in recognising the impact of alcohol related harms, understand the need to progress the Bill as quickly as possible. Commenting on the debate, Eunan McKinney, Head of Communications and Advocacy, said: “The nature of the debate highlights the collective will of the Seanad to stay the course... Full Story

Recent media reporting (IT, 04.11.17) has highlighted the undermining of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill by a small number of Fine Gael senators who, yet again, are demanding that the complaints of business owners take priority over modest public health measures that has overwhelming public support. Commenting on the reports, Eunan McKinney, Head of Communications and Advocacy at Alcohol Action Ireland said:  “As we understand the proposed amendments, unfortunately Minister Harris has had to move a considerable distance from the original... Full Story