An open letter signed by more than 75 health organisations and others is urging the Irish government to guarantee that the introduction of alcohol health labelling goes ahead next year. The signatories want to make sure that the planned introduction is not ‘derailed or delayed by alcohol industry lobbying’, says the Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) charity.
Ireland became the first country to commit to mandatory health labelling for alcohol products in 2023, in a move lauded by WHO and other health bodies. While the labelling guidelines are set to be introduced next May after a three-year lead-in period, AAI says the industry has been conducting ‘an ongoing campaign disparaging the need for labelling’.
The introduction of health labelling will ensure that consumers ‘are given the facts’ about health risks, AAI says, including the links with cancer and liver disease and the risks of drinking while pregnant. ‘It is essential that the public is provided with facts about alcohol as opposed to the spin from an immensely profitable, global industry which leaves the individuals, families and the state to pick up the tab for the damage its products cause,’ the letter states. ‘The alcohol industry should have no influence on public health policy.’
The open letter shows the extent of the ‘deep disquiet in the health and social community to the mooted re-examination of alcohol health information labelling,’ said AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany. ‘The legislation for these labels was passed in 2018 after extensive debate and with support from right across the political spectrum, matched by ongoing strong public support of over 70 per cent for the measure. Critically the debate was informed by the research base which was clearly articulated by multiple health experts and advocates, many with deep experience of the harms from alcohol. Since then, the evidence has only grown stronger. Ireland should take pride in its leadership in this regard.’
Meanwhile, a new report from the IPPR think tank says there is widespread public support for government intervention to improve health, with more than 60 per cent of 2,010 people surveyed backing the extension of smoking bans to more public spaces. ‘These findings dismantle the long-held assumption that bold health policy is politically risky,’ said head of health at IPPR, Sebastian Rees. ‘In reality, voters across the political spectrum see improving public health as a top priority and want the government to do more to allow them to live healthier lives.’
Open letter available here
The health mandate: the voters’ verdict on government intervention available here