Minister for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD, today opened the “Public Health and Alcohol Harm” seminar. The seminar was organised and hosted by the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU in Brussels.

The aim of the seminar was to discuss possible measures that Member States are contemplating in the fight against alcohol harm, such as minimum unit pricing and nutritional labelling, and to examine possible action that the Commission can take.

The seminar included contributions from the Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Satefy, Professor Nick Sheron, Professor and Head of Clinical Hepatology within Medicine at the University of Southampton, and Prof. Amandine Garde, Professor of Law at the University of Liverpool.

The seminar was very well attended by a broad spectrum of participants, such as representatives from other Member States, clinicians, academics, public health advocates and industry representatives.

Speaking at the seminar, Minister Corcoran Kennedy said: “I am delighted to be here today to discuss the issue of alcohol. Ireland has a serious problem – we drink too much alcohol. In spite of what we might like to think, alcohol is not abused by a small minority of individuals – the majority of people who drink do so in a harmful way. Our alcohol consumption is in the top 5 among EU 28 Member States.

“The Government in Ireland is committed to tackling alcohol misuse in Ireland and the widespread harm and pain it causes. The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was initiated in the Seanad last December and remains a priority for this Government. We expect to see it progress through the Houses of the Oireachtas this Autumn”.

The Minister was encouraged by the positive engagement from the Commission and the support she received from other Member States, who voiced their admiration for the provisions in the Bill.