Plan for health labels on alcohol may be delayed
Tánaiste Simon Harris has strongly indicated that a plan to introduce health labels on alcoholic drinks is set to be delayed.
Labels that showed the calorie content in drinks along with the grams of alcohol, were set to become a legal requirement for producers in May 2026.
However, Mr Harris told the Dáil that there is now a very new trade environment and the matter will be looked at again given the concerns within the industry.
He said that it was important that Government controlled the things it could control in this environment.
However, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) has criticised Mr Harris' comments in a statement, saying that they "raise questions regarding the real motives behind the move".
AAI's CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: "Labelling of alcohol products is a health issue and has nothing to do with Ireland's exports as the regulations only apply to products sold in Ireland."
"These modest labels have been extensively discussed for years and have gone through all the proper notification procedures with the EU and with the World Trade Organisation and are due to come into effect in May 2026," she said.
"They will provide facts to consumers about health risks from alcohol."
Then minister for health Stephen Donnelly signed the new regulations into law in May 2023, adding that businesses had three years to prepare for the change.
He said the new law is designed to give consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and the health risks associated with consuming alcohol.
He said food products already have health information on labels and alcohol is simply being brought into line with this.
Last month, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the introduction of the labels would have to be "carefully examined again" by the Government considering the increased pressure on the drinks industry due to US trade tariffs and the need to maintain competitiveness.
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