Ireland has postponed mandatory cancer warning labels on alcohol from 2026 to 2028, prioritising industry interest over people’s health and rights.
This new delay comes on top of previous delays that postponed the adoption of the lives saving Public Health Alcohol Act from 2016 to 2018.
Despite years of preparation and EU approval, the delay has drawn strong criticism from communities who warn it undermines alcohol policy, jeopardises people’s trust in democratic institutions and process, and violates people’s right to health information.
The alcohol industry did not use the preparatory period to get ready for the alcohol warning labels, but as lobbying and political interference window to delay the measure.
Communities and civil society now fear the delay will lead to complete derailment of the alcohol warning labeling.
