Government applies to European Commission for new alcohol consumption warnings

The Government's statement to the European Commission said it’s estimated that 4% of total health expenditure will be on alcohol-related disease for the next 30 years unless Ireland “changes its population's understanding of and relationship with alcohol”.

The Government has made an application to the European Commission to enact regulations that would put health warnings on all alcohol products, such as “alcohol causes liver disease” and “there is a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers”.

All cans and bottles of alcohol would also have to bear a symbol warning of the dangers of consuming alcohol when pregnant. The measures are contained in the Public Health Alcohol Bill, which has introduced a range of measures to date including minimum alcohol pricing and restrictions on advertising at sporting events.