Latest news with #SheilaGilheany
Irish Examiner
22-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Government delays introduction of alcohol warning labels until 2028
The Government is to delay the introduction of health warnings on alcoholic drinks until 2028, coming amid concerns the plan would undermine Irish trade competitiveness internationally. Cabinet will today approve the deferral of health warnings, with a memo due to be brought by health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The labels, which warn of links between alcohol and cancer, had been due to come into effect in May 2026. Last week, it was expected the delay would be until 2029. However, it will now only be until 2028. The delay comes amid concerns about the impact of such labels, with warnings from the Government's trade forum that it could undermine Irish products on international markets. Both domestic and international alcohol producers will have additional time to prepare for their introduction in 2028. The delay has already been criticised by Alcohol Action Ireland, with the advocacy group saying the decision shows both the Taoiseach and health minister 'turning their backs on public health'. 'It is bizarre that the Government should even contemplate delaying this measure, which has been in planning for years,' CEO Sheila Gilheany said. Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to update Cabinet on the ongoing trade talks between the EU and US. The Fine Gael leader is set to tell Government that there is still uncertainty over a deal. Mr Harris is expected to outline that the EU will intensify negotiating efforts with the US ahead of the August 1 deadline. Elsewhere on trade, enterprise minister Peter Burke will bring forward the new action plan on market diversification. The plan aims to assist Irish companies seeking to export their goods. While the policy will be approved by the Government today, it is not expected that the plan will be published until late August. Housing minister James Browne will seek Cabinet approval for more funding to be allocated towards community water schemes. It is understood that a total of €73.9m is expected to be allocated towards 291 community water schemes. The funding is expected to benefit approximately 63,000 households in rural Ireland. Funds are being allocated through the multi-annual rural water programme, which aims to improve local water infrastructure in areas not serviced by Uisce Éireann. Meanwhile, children's minister Norma Foley is expected to receive government approval for the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam, to come under the remit of the State Claims Agency. This will see any potential claims taken against the office to be handled by the State Claims Agency. Read More Introduction of health labelling on alcoholic drinks to be delayed until 2029
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Zero and low-alcohol drinks: what you need to know
Slowly, steadily, we are reducing the amount of alcohol we consume as a nation. Recent data from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows that alcohol consumption fell by 4.5% last year, continuing a welcome downward trend. Sales of booze-free and low alcohol — dubbed NoLo — beers and wines are booming as more of us make the switch to seemingly healthier drink choices. According to the Irish Beer Market Report, the demand for non-alcoholic beer alone grew by 18% in 2023-2024. The move to reduce alcohol intake is good news for our long-term health. But experts are questioning whether the NoLo market is as worthy as its manufacturers claim. 'Industry data shows that low- and no-alcohol drinks represent only about 1% of the market,' says Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland. 'They are portrayed as a public health solution to excessive alcohol consumption, but the World Health Organization has significant concerns over the marketing of the products and says that reduced or no-alcohol drinks don't deserve a health halo.' Others suggest that they are no better for us than conventional soft drinks, with many NoLo products being relatively high in sugar. Scientists from the US, Germany, and Spain recently warned that consuming just two small bottles of some low- or no-alcohol beers a day is enough to raise blood sugar levels and the long-term risk of type II diabetes and obesity. 'Non-alcoholic beers are gaining popularity as alternatives to alcoholic beverages, yet their metabolic and health effects, compared to no consumption of these drinks, remain unclear,' they reported in the Nutrients journal [ For the study, the international research team asked a group of 44 healthy young men to drink either two 330ml bottles of alcohol-free beer or water every day for four weeks. During the trial, the team conducted regular blood tests and other assessments to check for changes in glucose and lipid metabolism, liver enzymes, body composition, and the composition of the men's gut microbiome. The results showed that, compared to water, alcohol-free wheat beers and 'mixed beers' — a variety typically flavoured with soda — had 'an unfavourable metabolic impact on glucose and fat', which the team said was 'probably due to the caloric and sugar content' of the drinks. Lighter Pilsner-type, low-alcohol beers with a maximum 0.5% ABV, had a much less damaging impact. Pure alcohol contains around seven calories per gram — almost as many as fat — or about 56 calories per unit. Non-alcoholic drinks with an ABV of 0.5% or lower typically contain fewer calories than regular versions of the same drink, but they are not necessarily low-sugar or low-calorie options. In many cases, sugar is added to enhance flavour and palatability, significantly increasing the sugar content per bottle or glass. The Government recommends that adults limit their intake of added sugars to no more than 30g per day. Over one third of that upper limit would be reached with one 330ml bottle of Erdinger Alkoholfrei zero-alcohol beer, which contains about 11g of sugar. 'These drinks could be substitutes for some other soft drinks or consumed in addition to them, but they are an alternative not a better choice,' Gilheany says. 'Low- and no-alcohol drinks are not suitable for children or for adults in alcohol recovery, as they simulate the taste and flavour of alcohol.' Yet many of us can't get enough of low- or no-alcohol beers and wines. Here's what you get per glass or bottle in some of the popular NoLo products: GUINNESS ZERO 440ml can Guinness Zero Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 0.7g per 100ml; 3.1g per can; Calories: 17 per 100ml; 75 per can. CARLSBERG ALCOHOL FREE 330ml bottle Carlsberg Alcohol Free Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: Less than 0.5g per 100ml; 1.5g per bottle; Calories: 19 per 100ml; 63 per bottle. BROOKLYN SPECIAL EFFECTS 330ml bottle Brooklyn Special Effects Alcohol content: 0.4% ABV; Sugar: 2.9g per 100ml; 9.5g per bottle; Calories: 29 per 100ml; 95 per bottle. LUCKY SAINT LAGER 330ml bottle Lucky Saint Lager Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 0.1g per 100ml; 0.33g per bottle; Calories: 16 per 100ml; 53 per bottle. UNLTD IPA 330ml bottle UNLTD IPA Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 0.1g per 100ml; 0.33g per bottle; Calories: Four per 100ml; 13.2 per bottle. PERONI NASTRO AZZURO 330ml bottle Peroni Nastro Azzurro Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 0.8g per 100ml; 2.64g per bottle; Calories: 23 per 100ml; 75 per bottle. HEINEKEN 0 330ml bottle Heineken Zero Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 1.3g per 100ml; 4.29g per bottle; Calories: 21 per 100ml; 70 per bottle. BREWDOG NANNY STATE 330ml bottle Brewdog Nanny State Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 0.4g per 100ml; 1.32g per bottle; Calories: 6.0 per 100ml; 19.9 per bottle. BECKS BLUE 275ml bottle Becks Blue Alcohol content: 0.05% ABV; Sugar: 0.2g per 100ml; 0.6g per bottle; Calories: 14 per 100ml; 39 per bottle.; ERDINGER ALKOHOLFREI 330ml bottle Erdinger Alkoholfrei Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV Sugar: 3.6 per 100g; 11.9 per bottle; Calories: 25 per 100ml; 82 per bottle. DAYS LAGER 0% 330ml bottle Days Lager 0% Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 2.5g per 100ml; 8.25g per bottle; Calories: 22 per 100ml; 25.3 per bottle. PROPER JOB IPA 440ml can Proper Job IPA Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 1.4g per 100ml; 4.62g per can; Calories: 22 per 100ml; 72.6 per can. ZEROZECCO SPARKLING WHITE WINE 750ml bottle Zerozecco Sparkling White Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 5.7g per bottle; 0.76g per 100ml; 1.33g per 175ml glass; Calories: 25 per 100ml; 43 per 125ml glass. NOUGHTY BLANC 750ml bottle Noughty Blanc Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 2.1g per 100ml; 3.6g per 175ml glass; Calories: 17 per 100ml; 30 per 175ml glass. BIG DROP CITRIA IPA 330ml can Big Drop Citria IPA Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: Less than 0.5g per 100ml; 1.65 per can; Calories: 18.5 per 100ml; 61 per can. NOZECO 750ml bottle Nozeco Alcohol content: 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 5g per 100ml; 8.75g per 175ml glass; Calories: 20 per 100ml; 35 per 175ml glass. FREIXENET PRESECCO 750ml bottle Freixenet Presecco Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 5g per 100ml; 8.75g per 175ml glass; Calories: 20 per 100ml; 35 per 175ml glass. MCGUIGAN ZERO SAVIGNON BLANC 750ml bottle McGuigan Zero Sauvignon Blanc Alcohol content: Less than 0.5% ABV; Sugar: 4.2g per 100ml; 7.4g per 175ml glass; Calories: 24 per 100ml; 42 per 175ml glass. WEDNESDAY'S DOMAINE SPARKLING CUVEE 750ml bottle Wednesday's Domaine Sparkling Cuvée Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 2.7g per 100ml; 4.7g per 175ml; Calories: 10.9 per 100ml; 19 per 125ml. MCGUIGAN ZERO SHIRAZ 750ml bottle McGuigan Zero Shiraz Alcohol content: 0.0% ABV; Sugar: 4.5g per 100ml; 7.8g per 175ml glass; Calories: 29 per 100ml; 50.7 per 175ml glass. Industry data shows that low and no-alcohol drinks represent only about 1% of the market See:
NZ Herald
17-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Villa Maria adds fatal cancer warning label on bottles sold in Ireland
The wine travelled long distances and could spend weeks in shipping containers and distribution before reaching retail shelves, so acting early would avoid disruption for retail partners and consumers. 'Consumers will likely take note of the new labels in Ireland as it's a significant change across all alcoholic products but it's too soon to understand the ongoing impact on purchasing decisions.' Photos of Villa Maria wines featuring the warning labels were sent to advocacy groups in New Zealand by Alcohol Action Ireland, as it rallies support to stave off an alcohol industry lobbying effort to stall the labels. Sheila Gilheany, chief executive of Alcohol Action Ireland, wrote to alcohol harm reduction groups in New Zealand warning of a 'severe threat to Ireland's alcohol health information labelling regulations'. Gilheany told RNZ that Ireland's alcohol industry had opposed the cancer warning labels and was now using fears about trade tariffs to call for a delay. Irish media now expect the Government to defer the introduction of cancer warning labels until 2029. Gilheany welcomed Villa Maria's acceptance of Ireland's labelling law and said winemakers from Australia and Spain had also been early adopters. 'They are assuming that the government is not going to turn its back on its own law. Why should it? But at the same time, we can see the pressure that the various sectors of the industry are placing on the government here in Ireland and seeking to have it postponed.' Ireland had about 1000 alcohol-related cancers every year and one in eight breast cancer cases were linked to alcohol but awareness of those risks was low, she said. Governments had to 'face down the lobbying' both locally and internationally, Gilheany said. 'We know that when Ireland goes ahead with this measure, particularly around the cancer warnings, it is likely that other nations will follow suit.' Global push for warning labels Dozens of health groups recently wrote to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging him to follow Ireland's lead. The letter was co-ordinated by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) which is calling for 'clear, plain, distinct and mandatory' cancer warning labels rather than ambiguous language such as 'drink responsibly'. In January 2025, the US surgeon general said alcohol was a leading preventable cause of cancer and alcohol products should carry a warning label like cigarettes do. Virginia Nicholls, executive director of the New Zealand Alcohol Beverages Council, said the industry did not support cancer warning labels. 'The level of health risk associated with alcohol is more complicated than a label can convey,' she said. 'Labelling does not take into account the difference between responsible and hazardous drinking. The best place to get information on any health concerns is from your doctor.' Labels may raise awareness but did not change behaviour and called for policies to 'target the minority of people who are hazardous drinkers and not the large majority of Kiwis who are responsible drinkers'. Nicholls said cancer risk was low when drinking at 'moderate levels' and claimed there were 'benefits of moderate alcohol consumption' including reduced risk of heart attacks, ischaemic strokes and diabetes. But in a 2023 statement, the World Health Organisation said, 'when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health'. 'There are no studies that would demonstrate that the potential beneficial effects of light and moderate drinking on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with these same levels of alcohol consumption for individual consumers.' The WHO says alcohol was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago. 'This is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco.' Lisa Te Morenga, co-chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, said New Zealanders were being kept in the dark. 'Most New Zealanders don't really realise that alcohol is a carcinogen,' she said. 'So while the Irish are having their awareness raised, our consumers are missing out.' Act's Nicole McKee, the minister responsible for alcohol policy, is working on reform of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act. She said her focus was on 'regulatory relief' to make business easier for retailers and hospitality venues and also on reducing alcohol-related harm. 'I have not yet received any advice regarding cancer warning labels on alcohol products,' she said. 'Cabinet has yet to make any decisions regarding any reforms.' -RNZ
RTÉ News
15-07-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Government set to defer health labelling on alcoholic drinks until 2029
The Government is set to defer plans to require health labelling on alcoholic drinks until 2029. In an email sent to members of its trade forum, the Government signalled that a decision on deferring the long-planned move will be made next week. Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, said that these were "disappointing and bizarre" comments to hear from the Government. "It's a very disappointing comment to be made, and it's one that I can only describe it as bizarre, because these labels are already on multiple products in multiple shops right across the country," she said. "The idea of saying that we're going to delay this public health measure seems very strange indeed ..." Ms Gilheany pointed out that the decision had apparently not yet been made, but said they are calling on the Taoiseach to reflect and say - "'What is the point in actually delaying something which has long been planned for?'" Ms Gilheany said that this was a decision that would have consequences for many people. "Every year in Ireland, about 1,000 people will get a diagnosis of cancer which arises from alcohol. So, we're talking now about a four-year delay. That's 4,000 more people who will be getting that diagnosis," she said. "That's a diagnosis that, for many, they don't actually know why it has arisen, because we know that most people don't realise that there is a connection between alcohol consumption, even at relatively low levels, and cancer." Ms Gilheany said that health label requirements on alcohol would have an impact on people's lives and health. "There is evidence from around the world to say that informing people about this particular risk does have an impact on people's alcohol consumption. But not only that, it actually changes the conversation." She added that it was also about "changing the environment" for younger people who might not drink currently, but are considering it. "It sets the greater degree of public understanding." Ms Gilheany called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin, "who has a very proud and very good record on public health," to look at this matter.
