Cabinet has today (3 February 2015) signed off on far-reaching proposals to reduce alcohol consumption and tackle alcohol misuse which will help Ireland to cut alcohol consumption to the OECD average by 2020 and reduce the harm associated with alcohol misuse.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said the proposed Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 is part of a suite of measures designed to reduce alcohol consumption and limit the damage to the nation’s health, society and economy.
“Most Irish adults drink too much and many drink dangerously. This has an enormous impact on our society and economy through greater illness and higher health costs, public order and violent offences, road traffic collisions, injuries and absence from work. It is also associated with many suicides and instances of sexual violence, domestic violence and child harm,” Minister Varadkar said.
“This legislation is the most far-reaching proposed by any Irish Government. For the first time alcohol is being addressed as a public health measure which makes this a legislative milestone. It deals with all of the important aspects that must be addressed including price, availability, information and marketing.
“This matter has been debated for six years, since the establishment of the Working Group on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. A Bill has been on the cards since the Government decision in 2013. We have been talking about for too long. It is time to take action.”
The proposals are contained in the Heads of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 which was discussed at Cabinet today. They will form the basis of the Bill which will now be drafted. They include:
- Provisions to prevent the sale of very cheap alcohol, health labelling and warnings on products including calorie counts;
- New enforcement powers for Environmental Health Officers to police and enforce the separation of alcohol within stores, when Section 9 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 is commenced by the Department of Justice;
- Environmental Health Officers will also be empowered to police minimum unit pricing, health labelling, marketing and advertising and other measures of the Bill.
The following measures regarding marketing, advertising and sponsorship will be subject to a three year review to gauge their effectiveness:
- Restrictions on the advertising and marketing of alcohol from 2016 including a broadcast watershed on television and radio, with further restrictions due on cinema and outdoor advertising; · It will be illegal to market or advertise alcohol in a manner that is appealing to children.
- Legal regulation of sports sponsorship for the first time.
An inter-Departmental Committee chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach found that sponsorship was inextricably linked with marketing and advertising generally and best dealt with in a comprehensive way as proposed in the measures agreed today.
Source: health.gov.ie, 04/02/15
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