Ireland to label alcoholic drinks with detailed health warnings

The new legislation, signed into law by health minister Stephen Donnelly on Monday (22 May), will take effect in May 2026. The requirements will include telling consumers about the risks of drinking alcohol as well as providing a product’s calorie content.

The exact wording for the labelling is yet to be confirmed but consumers will be warned on-pack about the dangers of drinking while pregnant, as well as being informed of the links between drinking and liver disease and fatal cancers.

Ireland claims to be the first country in the world that will introduce such measures for alcoholic drinks.

The move sets the country on a collision course with its trading partners both in and outside of the European Union, however.

Thirteen EU member states including Italy, France and Spain have asked the European Commission to look into whether the labelling requirements would contravene EU law.

Meanwhile, ten countries, including the UK, the US, New Zealand, Australia and Mexico have lodged complaints with the World Trade Organization.

Last week, drinks industry bodies including The Brewers of Europe and Spirits Europe reiterated their opposition to the legislation, claiming the move would exclude other European brewers from the Irish market.

SpiritsEurope, which represents drinks companies including Jameson brand owner Pernod Ricard, said the move risked “fragmenting” Europe’s internal market by “deviating” from harmonised labelling.

Just Drinks