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Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018

The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (Act No. 24 of 2018) is an Act of the Oireachtas.

Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018
Oireachtas
  • An Act to provide for the minimum price per gram of alcohol, to confer the power on the Minister for Health to, by order, increase that price, to provide for the labelling of alcohol products including the inclusion of health warnings and the alcohol content and energy content of alcohol products on alcohol product containers, to provide that an applicant for the grant or renewal of a licence under the Licensing Acts 1833 to 2011 and an applicant for the grant or renewal of a licence under the Registration of Clubs Acts 1904 to 2008 shall notify the Health Service Executive of the application, to provide for restrictions in relation to the advertising and sponsorship of alcohol products, generally and in relation to children, to provide procedures in relation to the exposure for sale and advertising of alcohol products in specified licensed premises, to confer power on the Minister for Health to make regulations for the purpose of prohibiting or restricting the sale of alcohol products in certain circumstances, to provide for enforcement measures, to provide for the repeal of certain provisions of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 and the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008, and to provide for related matters.
CitationNo. 24 of 2018
Territorial extentIreland
Passed bySeanad
Passed3 October 2018
Passed byDáil
Passed3 October 2018
Signed byPresident Michael D. Higgins
Signed17 October 2018
CommencedCommenced in part:
6 November 2018
14 May 2021
2023
2023
Legislative history
First chamber: Seanad
Bill titlePublic Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015
Bill citationNo. 120 of 2015
Introduced byMinister for Health (Leo Varadkar)
Introduced10 December 2015
Committee responsibleHealth
First reading17 December 2015
Second reading26 October 2016
Considered by the Health Committee8 November 2017
Report and Final Stage15 December 2017
Second chamber: Dáil
Second reading6 March 2018
Considered in committee3 October 2018
Report and Final Stage3 October 2018
Final stages
Dáil amendments considered by the Seanad3 October 2018
Finally passed both chambers3 October 2018
Summary
Restricts advertising by alcohol companies and introduces a statutory minimum price for alcohol.
Status: Not fully in force

It was first published in 2015 and agreed on by the Dáil in October 2018. It is intended to reduce alcohol consumption and the harms caused by the misuse of alcohol. It provides for statutory minimum prices on alcohol, restrictions on advertising, stark warning labels on alcohol products, and the separation and reduced visibility of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets.[1]

Background

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Main article: Alcoholism in Ireland

Alcohol has historically been a major contributory factor for injuries presented to emergency departments, road traffic facilities, house fires and domestic abuse and there was an increase of hospital discharges related to alcohol of 92% between 1992 and 2005.[2]

Inaccurate statements regarding the safety of drinking small amounts of alcohol were observed in several different textbooks used in Irish universities.[3]

The alcohol industry has held economic and political influence and capital for 'centuries', challenging bills and other actions of the Department of Health to promote public health.[4] Many TDs hold constituency meetings in pubs, the alcohol industry secured an extra hour of opening times and further liberalisation of licensing laws.[5]

Before the implementation of minimum unit pricing, it was expected that the policy would reduce alcohol-attributable mortality among heavy drinkers, men and those on low income.[6]

Before the implementation of the cancer warning rule, there was a general lack of awareness of the risks of cancer associated with alcohol.[7]

Commencement of the law

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The Minister for Health Simon Harris brought 23 sections of the Bill into operation in November 2018. Alcohol advertising is to be banned within 200 metres of a school, crèche, or local authority playground and in or on public service vehicles, at public transport stops or stations from 2019. From 12 November 2020 alcohol products must be separated by a 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) high barrier from other goods. From 2021 various measures come into force to ensure that children are protected from alcohol advertising.[8]

From 2026, alcoholic drinks will have to have warnings describing the cancer risks associated with alcohol.[9]

Impact

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Increased sales of alcohol in border areas in Northern Ireland were noticed, but this has not been scientifically verified and cross-border purchases were found to be minimal across England and Scotland.[10][11]

Across all demographic groups in Ireland, there has been support for further evidence-based alcohol policies for promoting public health.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "After 1,000 days of debate, the government's landmark alcohol legislation has been passed". The Journal. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  2. ^ Nkire, Nnamdi; Nwachukwu, Izu (2 January 2018). "Problem drinking among young people in Ireland". International Psychiatry. 7 (4): 84–85. doi:10.1192/S1749367600005993. PMC 6734994. PMID 31508051. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  3. ^ Orakwue, Nneka; McNicholas, Fiona; O'Malley, Kieran (13 June 2014). "Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders – an Irish perspective". Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 27 (4): i–v. doi:10.1017/S0790966700001634. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ Lesch, Matthew; McCambridge, Jim (19 July 2022). "Understanding the Political Organization and Tactics of the Alcohol Industry in Ireland 2009–2018". Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 83 (4): 574–581. doi:10.15288/jsad.2022.83.574. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ Hope, Ann (19 July 2022). "The influence of the alcohol industry on alcohol policy in Ireland". European Journal of Public Health. 23 (6): 467–481. doi:10.1177/145507250602300612. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  6. ^ Cousins, Gráinne; Mongan, Deirdre; Barry, Joe; Smyth, Bobby; Rackard, Marion (19 July 2022). "Potential Impact of Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol in Ireland: Evidence from the National Alcohol Diary Survey". Alcohol and Alcoholism. 51 (6): 467–481. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agw051. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  7. ^ Hernandez, Joe (22 May 2023). "Ireland will require cancer warnings and calorie counts on alcoholic beverage labels". NPR. NPR. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Alcohol ads to be banned near schools, creches and playgrounds from next year". The Journal. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  9. ^ Pogatchnik, Shawn; Roberts, Daniela; De Lorenzo, Hannah (13 July 2024). "The EU booze industry is up in arms over Irish health warnings. Why?". Politico Europe. Retrieved 13 July 2024. The European Commission has cleared the way for Ireland to bring in the new labels. ... This means the proposed new regime can't come into force until 2026 at the earliest — while lobbying by the drinks industry could further delay or kill it off entirely.
  10. ^ Bowers, Shauna (22 June 2022). "Ireland's alcohol prices: People from Republic travelling to North's off-licences and spending 'up to €3,000' at a time". The Irish Times. The Irish Times DAC. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  11. ^ Wilson, David (16 January 2022). "Border off-licences hoping to cash in on Irish minimum pricing". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  12. ^ Cousins, Calnan; Millar, Seán; Mongan, Deirdre (19 July 2022). "Support for evidence-based alcohol policy in Ireland: results from a representative household survey". European Journal of Public Health. 33 (2): 323–330. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckad031. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
 

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