A coalition of health organisation representatives has been briefing Irish government officials about the ‘possible backtracking’ on the introduction of the country’s alcohol health labelling regulations.
The briefing is designed to ‘cut through the industry disinformation that has been swirling around government’, says Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI). Ireland was the first country to commit to mandatory health labelling for alcohol products, with the regulations due to come into force next year after a three-year lead-in period.
Last month more than 75 organisations signed an open letter urging the government to guarantee that the regulations go ahead and were not ‘derailed or delayed’ by industry lobbying. The regulations are part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act which was signed into law with ‘overwhelming support across party lines’, AAI points out.
‘Some of our senior politicians seem to be living in the disinformation space created by the alcohol industry around labelling,’ said AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany. ‘This briefing is about giving politicians the facts. Many politicians are only too happy to meet with industry representatives but would baulk at meeting those representing public health, and one wonders where they get their information, or disinformation, from. It’s hard to get the proper picture when you’re only listening to one side. Let’s not forget, people have a right to know the risks associated with alcohol consumption and to make informed decisions.’