Advertising alcoholic drinks in a way intended to appeal to children will be banned as part of the Government’s new legislation designed to reduce consumption.
Further details have been published of the legislation which will also pave the way for the restrictions on the sale of cheap drinks announced by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar on Tuesday.
The exact minimum price to be introduced for alcohol has not been decided but figures of between 90 cents and €1.10 per gram of alcohol have been mentioned.
Under the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015, health labelling on all alcoholic drinks, containers and promotional material will include warnings and advice aimed at pregnant women and others.
The amount of pure alcohol, measured in grams, and the calorie count contained in each measure or container will have to be displayed on labels.
Marketing and advertising alcohol on television and radio will be limited to evening hours from 2016, while cinemas will only be able to show alcohol advertisements ahead of films classified as suitable for over-18s. Alcohol-related displays in outdoor media will be restricted from 2018.
Penalties for offences under the Bill, including fines and prison terms, will be modelled on recent legislation relating to tobacco and sunbeds.
Alcohol products must be displayed separately from other products to “make them less visible to children”, according to the Bill.
Source: Mary Minihan, Aoife Carr, Irish Times, 05/02/15
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