P. 8 - Since September 2018, all cigarettes and all other tobacco products must be sold in plain or standardised packaging in accordance with the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Act 2015. Dublin was awarded the host city for the 2021 World Conference on Tobacco or Health following a successful campaign led by the Department. It is the premier conference on tobacco related issues and attracts an international audience of approximately 2,500 delegates. The conference has not been held in a European city since 2003.

The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill was signed into law and 23 of the 31 sections of the Act were commenced in November 2018.

Additional funding for drug and alcohol services and social inclusion initiatives allowed for the initiation of enhanced availability and range of drug and alcohol services and improved access to health services for people who are homeless, refugees and asylum seekers.

In May 2018 a public consultation was launched on the possession of illegal drugs for personal use. The consultation sought the views of the public on the effectiveness of the current law and on what alternatives could be considered. The purpose of this public consultation was to inform the deliberations of a Government Working Group set up to examine alternative approaches for personal possession of illegal drugs.