Concerns about a delay in bringing in health warning labels on alcohol products prompted temperance organisations in 11 other countries to contact the Government.
The new labels, which are to include cancer warnings, were due to take effect in May 2026.
However, the Government decided on July 22nd to delay the measure for two years amid the trade uncertainty caused by US president Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The Irish Times previously reported that Drinks Ireland – which is part of business lobby group Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (Ibec) – told Taoiseach Micheál Martin during a meeting in April that Irish plans for health labels on alcohol products were “identified as a barrier to trade by the US”.
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A note of that meeting said the drinks sector, “while open to labelling requirements, was seeking some delay from Government on their introduction”.
Now records released under the Freedom of Information Act show that indications the Government was set to delay the health labels led to concern among non-governmental organisations in several other countries.
Sweden-based temperance organisation Movendi International wrote to the Taoiseach on July 18th calling for Ireland to “implement alcohol warning labels without delay.”
Its president Kristina Sperkova wrote: “Our members around the world looked to Irish leadership with the hope it would inspire much-needed change in their countries, too. But today we’re shocked to see that this life-saving policy is under severe threat.”
She claimed there had been “aggressive lobbying by alcohol industry actors” and that, rather than concern about trade, the industry’s “true agenda” is to “delay” and “ultimately destroy” the measure.
Ms Sperkova called on Mr Martin to “resist alcohol industry pressure” and “implement the health warning labelling requirements on alcohol products in full, as planned, and as promised”.
Records released by the Department of Health show organisations listed as members of Movendi International in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Lesotho, Brazil, Thailand and Mongolia also contacted either the Taoiseach or Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill on the issue.
Other correspondence released shows that New Zealand-based Health Coalition Aotearoa and Alcohol Change Australia also contacted the Government in July.
A Movendi International statement this month pushed back against the suggestion the letters were a co-ordinated campaign. It said it holds workshops on “examples of alcohol policy progress” and, “when we discussed developments in Ireland, our members wanted to take action”.
Ms Sperkova said her organisation is “shocked and disappointed that the Irish Government gave into the pressure of multinational alcohol companies and their lobbyists”.
In response, the Government said the decision to delay health labelling until September 2028 “followed concerns raised about the impact of their implementation in the current global trading environment”.
A Drinks Ireland statement said that in July it welcomed the Government decision to “defer the introduction of additional Ireland-only labelling rules”.
It said its position is that “future labelling requirements should be developed and implemented at EU level to ensure harmonisation” and “avoid unnecessary trade disruption”.
It said the “concerns raised about the original legislation, including its citation internationally as a non-tariff barrier to trade, were legitimate, transparent, and made through the normal channels open to all stakeholders”.
“Drinks Ireland remains committed to constructive engagement, evidence-based policy, and ensuring that Irish consumers are provided with clear, consistent information that is delivered in a way that aligns with EU standards and supports the viability of Ireland’s drinks sector.”
It said alcohol consumption has fallen in Ireland and the “assertions made by international temperance organisations misrepresent both the process and the position of Ireland’s drinks producers and suppliers, most of whom are small and medium-sized indigenous businesses”.
Health Coalition Aotearoa and Alcohol Change Australia both praised the workplace smoking ban previously brought in two decades ago when Mr Martin was minister for health.
Health Coalition Aotearoa cautioned “against putting too much weight on alcohol industry critiques of the policy, including claims that it will affect exports”.
Alcohol Change Australia expressed a hope that Ireland bringing in health labelling would set “a strong example for other countries to adopt, including Australia”.
