A Social Democrats TD has launched an impassioned plea, urging Ministers not to delay the introduction of health warnings on alcohol. 

Two years ago, then-Health Minister Stepehen Donnelly signed the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023, which requires alcohol sold in Ireland to contain a health warning. 

The warnings are due to become mandatory in May 2026; however, Ministers are understood to be considering a delay in order to help the drinks industry cope with the looming cost of US tariffs. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Dublin Rathdown TD Sinéad Gibney said she understands all too well the harms alcohol can wreak, having decided to give it up herself over 13 years ago. 

“The reason I mention this and the harmful effects alcohol has had in my own experience is because I do believe that there are very few families in Ireland who haven’t been touched by alcohol and its harmful effects,” she explained. 

“The health implications, the addiction issues, the financial issues that arise, it is just the experience of so many families in Ireland. 

“So, I felt it was important to mention it.” 

Sinead Gibney and colleagues on the plinth of the Leinster House. Picture by: Leah Farrell/ RollingNews.ie

The Social Democrats TD disputed that there should be any connection between health warning labels and disruption to international trade. 

“The two issues are not connected; this law does not require drinks industries to label products for export,” she said. 

“So, they’re reconnecting issues that are not at all connected and really undermining this public health law - which was passed many years ago.” 

International business

France, Germany and Lithuania have also introduced health warnings for alcohol and the European Commission previously considered mandating a cancer warning across the bloc.  

Deputy Gibney added that she firmly believes “these labels work” and rejected the suggestion that the warning labels will be too difficult for drinks manufacturers to produce. 

“At the moment, drinks manufacturers handle the picture of multiple different markets and applying different information on labels for whatever market they’re exporting to,” she said. 

“We’ve seen that, at the moment, people who are importing into the Irish market from places as far away as Australia, New Zealand, elsewhere are already complying with this law and applying the labels onto the drinks that are sold here in Ireland. 

“You can see this at the moment in supermarkets in anticipation of next May’s deadline.”

Main image: Alcohol in the supermarket. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.