Minister for Health must account for her role in delaying alcohol labelling implementation

• Government buckled under pressure and sacrificed public health policy in favour of alcohol industry lobbyists. 
• Minister for Health must answer questions on her role in discussions to delay alcohol labelling. 
• Government U-Turn shows that Government is not taking alcohol related harms seriously. 

 

Labour Health Spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has criticised the Government’s decision to delay alcohol labelling implementation to September 2028. Deputy Sherlock has called on the Minister for Health to clarify what role she has played in defending this critical public health measure.

Deputy Sherlock said:

“In response to a parliamentary question to me in May, the Minister stated that the implementation of alcohol labelling, as per Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, would be implemented on the 22^nd of May 2026.

“Now, we hear Government has succumbed to industry pressure and delayed this crucial public health measure to September 2028. This is a shameful U-turn by Government on this crucial public health measure.

“We must hear from the Minister for Health. What role did she play in standing up for this measure by her own Department? Did she meet with industry representatives? And why did she tell me in a parliamentary response that this measure would be implemented in May 2026, only for that not to be the case?

“There has been a clear, concerted effort to undermine these measures. A briefing was hosted in July in Leinster House on why labelling is problematic for industry – what is problematic is the impact of alcohol on health.

“We also cannot have a situation where the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, or any other Minister or department, undermines the policy measures of the Minister or Department of Health, especially when they are public health measures.

“These labels contain factual information and, in my view, are unobtrusive. Indeed, some companies have already started introducing labelling in anticipation of these changes. They are taking their responsibilities more seriously than Government.

“76 organisations representing experts in health and addiction and family service providers have called on the Government to stay the course. They know the very real impact alcohol has on health and society.

“The evidence is clear. We know that more than half of Irish drinkers are classified as hazardous drinkers, that alcohol causes up to 1000 cancers per year, and that alcohol accounts for 30% of Emergency Department presentations.

“The Minister must account for her role in the delay in labelling and clarify the role she has played to defend this measure. The buck stops with her.”