Latest news with #PublicHealthAlcoholBill
Irish Examiner
23-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Relief for the industry or a blow to public health: Mixed reaction to delayed health warnings on alcohol
There was a mixed reaction to the Government confirming it would delay putting health warnings on alcohol products, from 'breathing space for a sector under pressure' to 'a blow for public health in Ireland'. 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'.
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Crackdown planned on use of loyalty cards to buy discounted alcohol
The Government is set to crack down on customers using supermarket loyalty cards to obtain discounts on alcohol. While existing laws prohibit using loyalty card points to purchase alcohol, further regulations are now planned for their use to buy cut-price booze. Currently, some supermarkets allow customers to buy items, including alcohol, at a reduced price if they use their loyalty cards when purchasing them. Minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said regulations will need to be submitted to Europe before it can be passed. Separately, the health minister also expects a group of experts to report back on the progress of measures such as minimum-unit pricing of alcohol by the end of this year. The Public Health Alcohol Bill, passed in 2018, has multiple sections which have been enacted by Government in the years since it was signed into law. This has included the introduction of barriers in shops that sell alcohol from the other products in the store. It has also seen an advertising watershed introduced as well as restrictions on advertising in the likes of sports arenas. Section 23 of the legislation covered alcohol promotions in retail outlets and was made law in January 2021. It prohibits the award of, or use of, bonus or loyalty card points in relation to the sale of alcohol products. While the regulations do not specifically prohibit buying alcohol at a reduced price by using a loyalty card, Ms Carroll MacNeill has said in response to a parliamentary question that further developments in this area will be submitted to Europe. A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'The minister has begun developing regulations to address alcohol price promotions related to the possession of a loyalty card. 'The EU assessment involves a standstill period of up to six months, during which time the EU Commission and other member states examine the notified draft in the context of compatibility with EU law and the principles of the free movement of goods and services.' As for minimum unit pricing, which came in in 2022, the legislation allowing it come into force allows the minister for health to raise the floor price for alcohol three years after the measure has been introduced. Ms Carroll MacNeill said the law specifies that she must take into account expert research available on the effectiveness of minimum unit pricing with a report expected later this year. She must also have regard to factors such as patterns of alcohol consumption and data from health services on alcohol-related presentations at health facilities since its introduction. Read More 'Alarming' increase in levels of forever chemical TFA found in European wines
