commend Ireland for their progressive

approach in prioritising public health ,’ is how the WHO responded to Ireland becoming the first country to commit to mandatory labelling for alcohol products back in 2023 ( DDN , June 2023 , page 4 ).

The Public Health ( Alcohol ) ( Labelling ) Regulations , which were signed into law in May that year , form part of the wider Public Health ( Alcohol ) Act ( PHAA ), section 19 of which – covering pre-watershed bans on TV and radio ads for alcohol

– came into force last month ( see news , page 5 ).

The labelling regulations stipulate that all alcohol labels would need to clearly show not just the number of calories and grams of alcohol contained , but also health warnings about the risk of liver disease , alcohol-related cancers and drinking while pregnant ( DDN , June 2023 , page 4 ). Campaigners in the UK have long been calling for similar measures here , and Labour previously committed to mandatory labelling that included nutritional information and up-to-date

low-risk drinking guidelines while in opposition ( DDN , July / August 2019 , page 5 ). So what lessons can we learn from Ireland ’ s experience ?

LABELLING GUIDELINES The labelling guidelines are set to be introduced next May after a three-year lead-in period , but in 2023 the Alcohol Action Ireland ( AAI ) charity called on the alcohol industry ‘ not to cause any further delay ’ and to demonstrate their commitment to better business practices by adopting the new labelling ahead of the implementation date .

Few people will be surprised to learn that no company has voluntarily done this . In fact there ’ s been ‘ an ongoing campaign disparaging the need for labelling ,’ AAI ’ s CEO Sheila Gilheany tells DDN , which even includes calling into question the evidence around alcohol and cancer . ‘ The industry will always say things like it ’ s only at very high levels of alcohol consumption that there ’ s any possible problems , but that ’ s not the case . They ’ re certainly continuing to do that , and they ’ ve certainly sought meetings with government officials and ministers .

Roman Samborskyi | Dreamstime . com