Michael McHale , 2025-07-22 05:30:00
Lobby group calls for Health Minister to resist pressure to delay alcohol health information labelling
A public health advocacy group has accused some Government departments of ‘enhancing alcohol consumption’ through supports for the drinks industry.
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) described the Government’s alcohol policy as ‘disjointed and often contradictory’ and criticised some cabinet ministers for putting ‘extreme pressure’ on the Health Minister to scrap planned alcohol health information labels.
The comments came as an independent evaluation of the National Drugs Strategy was published. It found that 73 per cent of the population currently consume alcohol compared with 7.3 per cent using any illegal drugs.
While there has been some reduction in the level of alcohol use by children, the report pointed to high levels of hazardous and binge drinking by international standards, particularly among men.
The report also notes the high level of Alcohol Use Disorder, with one-in-five drinkers here having an AUD – around 600,000 people in Ireland.
According to AAI, the State is left with a bill of at least €12 billion annually because of alcohol use, with costs borne in the areas of health, justice, and loss of workplace productivity.
AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany
“Despite these well-recognised issues, alcohol policy in Ireland remains disjointed and often contradictory with some government departments seeking to enhance alcohol consumption through supports for the alcohol industry and pushing back against the well-evidenced measures from the Department of Health,” said AAI chief Dr Sheila Gilheany.
“Never has this been clearer than in the past few weeks with some cabinet ministers putting extreme pressure on the Minister for Health to delay the long-planned for introduction of alcohol health information labelling, often using spurious arguments from the alcohol industry while pointing to the modest improvements in some aspects of alcohol consumption as a reason to abandon the well-evidenced policies rather than strengthening these policies.
She added: “Abandoning labelling at this point would be particularly shocking and foolish, given the labels are already appearing on multiple products in shops across Ireland. Multiple health organisations, clinicians and advocates across Ireland and internationally have contacted the Minister and the Taoiseach in recent weeks to express their alarm at any such derailment of what is long settled policy.”
As part of consultations with stakeholder, the drugs strategy evaluation found significant areas that required improvement, including weaknesses in governance, and unclear roles among workers in addiction treatment service providers.
“In addition, service demand was reported to exceed capacity,” the report said. “Stakeholders highlighted the need for more integrated care pathways, especially for individuals with dual diagnoses.”
The evaluation added: “Concerns were also raised by stakeholders in relation to the adequacy of prevention efforts, inequitable access to services, and the impact of stigma on families and communities.”
According to the Irish National Drug and Alcohol Survey, 85 per cent of lifetime users of cocaine also used alcohol on the occasion of first use. Recent research from the Health Research Board also showed that in 2024 the most common additional drug alongside powder cocaine was alcohol (63.9 per cent).
This tallies with international research which indicates that that 60–85 per cent of problematic users of cocaine are also concurrent problematic users of alcohol, and that simultaneous consumption is common.
‘Alcohol, in particular, can often be a driver for illegal drug use particularly cocaine,” said Dr Gilheany. “It makes sense to address all drug use in Ireland and to recognise the scale of the issues.”
The evaluation makes ten recommendations, including the alignment of treatment services with the new HSE regions, and to strengthen alternatives to coercive sanctions for those found in possession of illegal drugs for personal use, such as the Health Diversion Scheme and community liaison roles.
“As policymakers, it is essential that we identify what has worked well, what requires improvement, and ensure that the over €300 million in annual public expenditure on drugs delivers real impact,” said Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
“The establishment of new HSE health regions presents a valuable opportunity to tailor drug treatment services to population needs and to ensure that both existing and new funding is allocated effectively and transparently.
“I also take note of the proposals aimed at strengthening cooperation and coordination among the many public agencies and civil society organisations involved in delivering the national drugs strategy. One area I intend to prioritise is collaboration with British-Irish administrations and EU member states.
She added: “The upcoming Irish Presidency of the EU offers a unique opportunity to foster greater collaboration between member states, the EU Drugs Agency, and civil society organisations. Together, we can better address the health and preparedness challenges posed by an evolving and dynamic drugs market.”