Government must proceed with alcohol health warnings, says Cork TD

A Cork TD has highlighted new HSE research showing that only 38% of people in Ireland are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, saying this highlights the need for the government to proceed with alcohol health warning labels.

It comes as the drinks industry has cautioned against introducing these labels as part of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, saying it would do damage to the industry particularly in light of threats of tariffs from the US.

However, lobby groups have expressed disappointment in the decision to delay the process, which had been scheduled for May next year, until 2028.

Pádraig Rice, a TD for Cork South Central and chair of the oireachtas committee on health, said: “While only 38% of people are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, by contrast 76% know that smoking causes cancer.

“Each year in Ireland there are approximately 1,000 alcohol-related cancer cases. Yet senior government ministers have signalled that alcohol labelling may be delayed due to the US tariff threats facing our economy.”

He explained that the health labelling will only apply to alcohol products sold in Ireland, and for imports, the onus will be on retailers to ensure products are labelled, not producers, saying: “A supermarket or off-licence can simply add a sticker to the product, so the potential impact on the drinks industry has been greatly overstated.”

He highlighted that 20 years ago Taoiseach Micheál Martin pushed through the smoking ban “in the face of heavy opposition and lobbying from the tobacco industry, publicans, and even some members of his own party,” calling for him to act similarly on this.

Mr Rice recently raised the issue with the Taoiseach in the Dáil, and Mr Martin agreed that alcohol can be a contributory factor to cancer, saying “from 2000 to now, there has been a very substantial and significant reduction in the consumption of alcohol”, and highlighting that the previous government introduced minimum pricing.

On the labelling, he said: “The Government considers all of these matters. An issue has been raised in the context of the trade and tariffs issue.”

Alcohol Action Ireland CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “To say that this delay is a blow for public health in Ireland is an understatement. In the period to 2028 more than 3,000 people in Ireland will be diagnosed with cancer caused by alcohol.

“This includes some of the most common cancers in Ireland such as breast and bowel cancer with one in every eight breast cancers arising from alcohol.

“There will be upwards of 15,000 babies born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which is a completely preventable neuro-developmental condition, that has lifelong implications and is estimated to cost the exchequer €2.4bn a year in terms of service need.

“Labels are crucial to efforts to reduce incidences of cancer, liver disease, and FASD in Ireland and indeed to change the conversation about this product which is heavily marketed as risk-free and essential to everyday living.”