Industry and health advocate views on alcohol bill ‘not on par’

The interests of business and public health advocates should not be given equal weight in discussions around the final form of landmark legislation on alcohol, according to a charity working in the area.

Alcohol Action Ireland accused the industry of using “highly intemperate” language and the “pernicious distribution” of inaccuracies, such as disputing scientific evidence that alcohol was a carcinogen.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said he hoped the long-waited Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will complete its passage through the Oireachtas over the autumn.