Relief for the industry or a blow to public health: Mixed reaction to delayed health warnings on alcohol
At Cabinet on Tuesday, ministers heard that the introduction of health warnings on alcohol labels was being delayed by two years after concerns were raised about the impact of their implementation in the current global trading environment.
It comes against the backdrop of fears for Irish business from US trade tariffs propagated by President Donald Trump, with Fine Gael ministers in particular such as Paschal Donohoe and Peter Burke raising concerns in recent months.
Part of the landmark Public Health Alcohol Bill, which has seen the introduction of minimum unit pricing and advertising curbs, the measure will now proceed next year as planned but at a 'more appropriate time', Cabinet heard.
Ibec organisation Drinks Ireland welcomed the move and said it provided 'much-needed relief' for drinks producers in this country.
'Our members are currently contending with major trade uncertainty, new tariffs on product entering our most important export market, the US, and threats of further tariff escalation,' it said.
'In these uncertain times, companies must be as competitive as possible to survive in international markets. This means tackling regulatory burden and reducing costs for producers.'
It claimed that commentary that the now-deferred changes would not impact exports, as the labelling requirement would only have applied here, was 'misguided and disingenuous'.
'The introduction of supplementary requirements uniquely for the Irish market would have placed additional pressure on all companies operating here, and this would of course be more pronounced for SMEs,' it added.
The move was also welcomed by the Irish Whiskey Association, which called it a 'reprieve' as some members would have seen packaging and labelling costs increase by over 35%.
Meanwhile, Alcohol Action Ireland said it was disappointed by the Government's decision and said the measure was aimed at informing consumers about the health risks that come with alcohol consumption.
'It's not just that the government is allowing its own groundbreaking legislation to be undermined by the very industry it is designed to regulate,' its CEO Sheila Gilheany said.
This delay will have real-life consequences that will be felt by ordinary Irish people every day.
Labels are crucial to efforts to reduce incidences of cancer, liver disease, and foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Ireland and indeed to change the conversation about this product which is heavily marketed as risk-free and essential to everyday living.'
Ms Gilheany added that the step-by-step approach to implementing aspects of the Public Health Alcohol Bill has been slow and allowed a space where misinformation has flourished.
She also criticised the failure to date to introduce stricter curbs for advertising allowed by the law, which would restrict the content of such adverts to 'facts, stripping out the industry myths which are used to recklessly promote alcohol consumption'.
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