Ireland is on track to become the first country in the world to put mandatory health warnings on the labels of alcoholic drinks.
As well as warnings about the links to cancer, liver disease and the risk of drinking while pregnant, the labels will include calorie and alcohol content.
Stephen Donnelly, Ireland’s health minister, signed off the new regulations yesterday, although the labels won’t be mandatory until May 2026.
The Irish government said the regulations would bring alcohol products in line with requirements for food packaging, which already contains health information and warnings.
Donnelly said: “I welcome that we are the first country in the world to take this step and introduce comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products. I look forward to other countries following our example.”
Other countries include warnings on alcohol products, but Ireland’s regulations are intended to be more comprehensive.
The country’s plan has faced protests from other EU member states that claim the move could cause problems within the single market.
Coldiretti, Italy’s biggest farmers’’ association, commented: “The green light from the European Union for alarmist wine labels in Ireland represents a dangerous precedent as it risks opening the door to other legislation capable of negatively influencing consumer choices.”
Earlier this month, trade association SpiritsEUROPE revealed that it had submitted a formal complaint asking the European Commission to open an infringement procedure against Ireland for breaching EU law with its new labelling regulation.
NAM Implications:
- What will be the effect of reminding the consumer of the health impact of consumption?
- (Given that years of warnings on tobacco packaging does not appear to have been a deterrent…)
- Merely another box ticked?
