Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018
| Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 | |
|---|---|
| Oireachtas | |
| |
| Citation | No. 24 of 2018 |
| Territorial extent | Ireland |
| Passed by | Seanad |
| Passed | 3 October 2018 |
| Passed by | Dáil |
| Passed | 3 October 2018 |
| Signed by | President Michael D. Higgins |
| Signed | 17 October 2018 |
| Commenced | Commenced in part: 6 November 2018 14 May 2021 2023 2023 |
| Legislative history | |
| First chamber: Seanad | |
| Bill title | Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 |
| Bill citation | No. 120 of 2015 |
| Introduced by | Minister for Health (Leo Varadkar) |
| Introduced | 10 December 2015 |
| Committee responsible | Health |
| First reading | 17 December 2015 |
| Second reading | 26 October 2016 |
| Considered by the Health Committee | 8 November 2017 |
| Report and Final Stage | 15 December 2017 |
| Second chamber: Dáil | |
| Second reading | 6 March 2018 |
| Considered in committee | 3 October 2018 |
| Report and Final Stage | 3 October 2018 |
| Final stages | |
| Dáil amendments considered by the Seanad | 3 October 2018 |
| Finally passed both chambers | 3 October 2018 |
| Summary | |
| Restricts advertising by alcohol companies and introduces a statutory minimum price for alcohol. | |
| Status: Not fully in force | |
The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (Act No. 24 of 2018) is an Act of the Oireachtas.
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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ "After 1,000 days of debate, the government's landmark alcohol legislation has been passed". The Journal. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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. PMC 9318702. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hernandez, Joe (22 May 2023). "Ireland will require cancer warnings and calorie counts on alcoholic beverage labels". NPR. NPR. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "Alcohol ads to be banned near schools, creches and playgrounds from next year". The Journal. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wilson, David (16 January 2022). "Border off-licences hoping to cash in on Irish minimum pricing". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ 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. PMC 10066492. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
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