The government has published new legislation aimed at tackling alcohol abuse - the news laws will set minimum prices for alcohol, will impose restrictions on advertising and will require alcoholic products to carry warning labels.
Cabinet today signed off on a set of proposals that aim to reduce Ireland’s alcohol consumption to the OECD average by 2020. Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said the proposed Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 is part of a range of measures to tackle the nation’s health problems.
“Most Irish adults drink too much and many drink dangerously,” Mr Varadkar said.
“This has an enormous impact on our society and economy through greater illness and higher health costs, public order and violent offences, road traffic collisions, injuries and absence from work. It is also associated with many suicides and instances of sexual violence, domestic violence and child harm,” he added.
The legislation covers the sale and marketing of alcohol. The provision will outlaw the sale of ‘very cheap’ alcohol, and enforce health labelling, including and calorie count warnings. Alcohol will also now have to be sold in separate areas in shops and supermarkets. Environmental Health Officers will also be empowered to police the adherence to these new rules.
The labelling system is intended to ensure people realise how much they are drinking. The Department of Health cites research from the Health Research Board, National Alcohol Diary Survey, which found that the Irish population underestimate how they drink, reporting just 39% of their consumption.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar said it "could be six or 12 months" before the new system comes into effect."
A set of restrictions on advertising alcohol will be given a three year trial period to assess their effectiveness. These include a watershed on advertising and changes to the rules regarding advertising alcohol in cinemas and on outdoor advertising.
It will now be illegal to advertise alcohol ‘in a way that is appealing to children’, and for the first time there will be legal regulation of sports sponsorship.
“This legislation is the most far-reaching proposed by any Irish Government. For the first time alcohol is being addressed as a public health measure which makes this a legislative milestone. It deals with all of the important aspects that must be addressed including price, availability, information and marketing,” Mr Varakar said.
“This matter has been debated for six years, since the establishment of the Working Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. A Bill has been on the cards since the Government decision in 2013. We have been talking about for too long. It is time to take action,” he added.
