Ireland’s alcohol labeling legislation draws accusations of “zealotry” threatening EU single market

30 May 2023 --- Ireland’s latest health labeling law for alcohol products has divided beverage industry stakeholders. While some tout the “world’s first comprehensive” labeling regulation as a “warm welcome,” others flagged it for disrupting and undermining the EU single market.

Under the regulations, alcohol product labels in Ireland will include important information, such as calorie content and grams of alcohol. These labels will also prominently display warnings about the risks associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the dangers of liver disease and cancers caused by alcohol.

“Unfortunately, this is an example of zealotry rather than evidence-based legislation,” argues Cormac Healy, director at Drinks Ireland.

“We would call on the government to urgently address significant international concerns from the EU and beyond and explain why Ireland is going alone on alcohol labels at a time when harmonized labels are being planned across the EU.”

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Health Minister Stephen Donnelly hopes that other countries will follow its example and says the law “is designed to give all of us as consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and health risks associated with consuming alcohol. With that information, we can make an informed decision about our alcohol consumption.”

“Packaging of other F&B products already contains health information and, where appropriate, health warnings. This law is bringing alcohol products into line with that.”

The Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and the remaining provisions of Section 12 of Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act were officially signed on May 22. It provides a three-year lead-in time for businesses to prepare for the change.

Ireland has provided a three-year lead-in time for the implementation of the alcohol label regulation.Cancer awareness
Ireland shares that according to a 2020 report on alcohol and cancer in the WHO European region, light to moderate drinking levels caused almost 23,000 new cancer cases in 2017 – half of which were female breast cancers.

“Everyone has a right to be told about the risks associated with a product before we consume it. This law is designed to ensure all consumers of alcohol have access to clear and concise information about the risks from alcohol,” states Hildegarde Naughton, Ireland’s minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy.

“The medical evidence is clear that a cancer risk applies even at lower levels of alcohol consumption.”

Furthermore, an alliance of European civil society leaders has written to senior European Commission officials to urge the bloc to respect citizens’ alcohol health information rights promptly. 

The call was made in an open letter to senior EU figures with 68 signatures from civil society leaders across Europe, coordinated by the European Alcohol Health Policy Alliance (Eurocare).

“On-label nutrition and ingredient information is the most appropriate and most practical way to respect consumers’ right to know,” the letter reads.

“It ensures that consumers have immediate access to this information (both at the point of purchase and right before consumption), it allows for easier comparison between products and it requires no additional tools or skills.”

The alliance invites the EC to mandate on-label provision of energy value, a full nutrition declaration, and a list of ingredients for all alcoholic beverages. Under current EU regulations, alcoholic beverages containing more than 1.2% alcohol by volume are not required to list calorie information or ingredients on their labels. 

“WHO has long advocated for comprehensive labeling on alcohol products, recognizing that it can inform consumers about the risks associated with alcohol consumption so that they can make informed choices,” says Dr. Carina Ferreira-Borges, regional adviser for Alcohol, Illicit Drugs and Prison Health at WHO/Europe. 

“We commend Ireland for their progressive approach in prioritizing public health and setting a precedent in the EU with the introduction of mandatory alcohol labeling.” A WHO European region report found light to moderate drinking levels caused almost 23,000 new cancer cases in 2017.

Breaking harmony?
However, representing the interests of alcohol drinks manufacturers and suppliers, Drinks Ireland says Ireland is “railroading alcohol labeling legislation despite ongoing international processes at WTO and EU level.” 

It highlights significant international opposition from trading partners of the country and formal complaints by European organizations representing the spirits, beer and wine sectors asking the EC to open an infringement procedure against Ireland for breaching EU law. 

“They call out the Irish proposals as a disproportionate trade barrier, undermining the single market and that other less trade disruptive approaches can and should be taken,” states Drinks Ireland. 

The trade organization draws attention to criticisms raised by up to ten countries, including the US, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and Cuba, in addition to objections to the Irish legislation by 13 EU member states, including France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

According to reports, Italy, France and Spain, which account for 47% of all wine bottles produced worldwide, are working together to create a document opposing the Irish legislation.

“The [Irish] government has been staunch defenders of the harmonized EU market but is now clearly causing unnecessary tensions with important trading partners. We do not need two labeling systems. The logic remains that Ireland works with the EU on its plans for a harmonized approach,” concludes Healy.

By Radhika Sikaria