Alcohol Action Ireland press release, Tuesday 15 July 2025
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, notes the article in today Irish Times (https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/07/15/health-labelling-on-alcoholic-drinks-set-to-be-deferred-until-2029/) stating a decision will be made on possibly delaying alcohol health information labelling next week by the Cabinet.
AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “No decision has been made yet on labelling and this is clearly yet another instance of the alcohol industry and their friends in government putting more pressure on the Taoiseach and Health Minister to turn their backs on public health.
“It is bizarre that the government should even contemplate delaying this measure which has been in planning for years. Indeed multiple products are already for sale in Ireland with the labels in advance of them becoming compulsory by May 2026. Businesses in countries as diverse as Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Spain are now labelling their products in the entirely reasonable expectation that Ireland is implementing its stated law. They’re here and the world hasn’t caved in like some would have us believe. Why then are some people in government talking about hiding the facts from the public, which is what delaying these regulations would mean? Let’s not forget, people have a right to know the risks associated with alcohol consumption and to make informed decisions.
“Any decision to delay the regulations has consequences, not least the 4,000 people who will receive a cancer diagnosis caused by alcohol and the multiple thousands of babies who will be born with FASD in the four years that a delay has been mooted for.
“It is also entirely disingenuous for government ministers to suggest that Ireland should wait for an EU-wide label. There is no such proposal on the table and there won’t be in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, Ireland’s label is already on some products. This is an opportunity for Ireland to lead the way, rather than allowing the alcohol industry to hold back life-saving public health measures.
“Despite the welcome recent reduction in alcohol consumption in Ireland we are still drinking at a level 35% above lower-risk guidelines and still endure a very heavy burden of harm caused by alcohol.
“Micheál Martin is rightly held in the highest regard nationally and internationally thanks to his leadership around Ireland’s smoking regulations and he knows all too well the power of industry lobbying having faced down the tobacco industry then. The eyes of the world are on Ireland again and AAI is strongly urging the Taoiseach to do the right thing and resist industry lobbying once more and proceed as planned with alcohol labelling’s introduction in May 2026.”
ENDS
