Sir, – As concerned clinicians, representatives of healthcare and social organisations and advocates, we are calling on the Taoiseach and Minister for Health to ensure that the planned introduction in May 2026 of Ireland’s regulations on health information labelling of alcohol products is not derailed or delayed by alcohol industry lobbying.
These labels will ensure that consumers are given the facts about some of the risks from alcohol including risks in pregnancy, links with fatal cancers and liver disease.
This latest attempt from industry is part of a long-running campaign against these modest regulations. Previous efforts by the immensely profitable global alcohol industry have included claims that the warning language is “disproportionate and inaccurate” and primarily geared toward “scaring people”.
This is despite the evidence that even 1-2 drinks per day carries increased cancer risk, with around 1,000 alcohol-related cancers diagnosed annually in Ireland, that liver disease death rates have steadily increased over the past 20 years and that Ireland has one of the highest rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders in the world.
The legislation for these warning labels was passed in 2018 after extensive debate and with support from right across the political spectrum, matched by continuing strong public support of over 70 per cent for the measure. Critically, the debate was informed by the research base which was clearly articulated by multiple health experts and advocates, many with deep experience of the harms from alcohol.
Since then, the evidence has only grown stronger. Ireland should take pride in its leadership in this regard. As with the smoking ban 20 years ago, it is likely that other countries will follow suit.
In addition to the significant health reasons for these labels and the widespread support for them, there is also the issue of the impact of alcohol on the health service and the wider State. Alcohol costs the health service around 11 per cent of its budget. The wider cost to the State including impacts on criminal justice and the loss of workplace productivity has been estimated by the World Health Organisation as at least 2.5 per cent of GDP – €12 billion annually. Against this, alcohol excise duties only raise a tenth of this amount, €1.2 billion annually. Reducing this burden must be an economic imperative for any government.
With all of this in mind, it is essential that the public is provided with facts about alcohol as opposed to the spin from an immensely profitable, global industry which leaves individuals, families and the State to pick up the tab for the damage its products cause.
The alcohol industry should have no influence on public health policy. – Yours, etc,
FRANK MURRAY
Chair,
Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland
For full list of signatories see alcoholireland.ie
