Sir, – A recent Indecon report, sponsored by Drinks Ireland-Ibec, has received widespread media coverage. It states that the Irish drinks sector has grown substantially over the last 15 years and contributes significantly to the island-wide economy.
However, the report also repeats the alcohol industry’s arguments against Ireland’s alcohol regulations, particularly on labelling.
Health information labels would give consumers basic facts on cancer risk, liver disease and alcohol and pregnancy. They were due in May 2026 but, under industry pressure, have been delayed until September 2028. This report shows that the industry is still pushing to derail this modest measure.
The report also tries to link labelling to exports. Yet labelling applies only to products sold in Ireland, and labels can simply be added by sticker before sale. Indeed, several products in Irish off-licences already carry them.
RM Block
Nor is labelling an EU matter, despite the report’s suggestion that it should be agreed at that level. The European Commission has already confirmed that labelling does not affect the internal market. Referring it to an EU-wide process would be a death sentence for this important Irish public health measure.
Unsurprisingly, the report does not reference the WHO estimate that alcohol harms cost Ireland at least €15 billion a year across health, social care, productivity and justice.
More surprising is the failure in some sections of the media to provide this context. This again underscores why the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, must stick to her department’s plans and fully implement health information labelling as a matter of urgency.
People in Ireland deserve the facts about alcohol. – Yours, etc,
Dr SHEILA GILHEANY,
Chief executive,
Alcohol Action Ireland,
Coleraine Street,
Dublin 7.
