Ireland, located in Europe, is a country hitting a new mark. It will be the first country in the world to mandate labels on alcoholic beverages that show their health risks.
See too: Having more than two alcoholic drinks a week: a habit that can lead to cancer
see more
Secret of youth? Researchers reveal how to reverse…
The "powers" of porridge: check out the benefits of oats in…
Information should warn about caloric content, grams of alcohol, risks of cancer and liver disease, and dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Analogously, it would be like what is already done with cigarette consumption, including here in Brazil.
Ireland: Obligation for labels that demonstrate health risks
The Minister of Health of Ireland, Stephen Donnelly, signed last Monday, 22/05, a law that obliges the labels of drinks containing alcohol throughout the country to present the health risks for the consumers. However, companies will have three years to prepare. The measure will come into effect from May 22, 2026.
In a speech, the aforementioned minister says: “With this information, we can make an informed decision about our own consumption of alcohol. The packaging of other foods and beverages already contains health information and, where appropriate, health warnings. This law is bringing alcohol products in line with that.”
Still in the same vein, the Minister of Public Health, Welfare and National Drug Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton, added details and positive points of the Law, in addition to warning about the relationship between cancer and the alcohol.
“Everyone has the right to be informed about the risks associated with a product before consuming it. This law was created to ensure that all alcohol consumers have access to clear and concise information about the risks of alcohol. The medical evidence is clear that the risk of cancer applies even at lower levels of alcohol consumption”
Reviews from other European countries
The European Commission was not against Ireland's plan, which the government had already signaled last year, even with criticism of protests from countries such as Italy, Spain and six other members belonging to the Union European.
Furthermore, Coldiretti, the largest association of farmers in Italy, took the opposite position.
“The EU green light for alarmist wine labels in Ireland represents a dangerous precedent, as it risks being open the door to other legislation capable of negatively influencing consumer choices,” he said through a communicated.
