775. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the full commencement of all of the sections of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. [39210/22]

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly

The Public Health (Alcohol) Act was enacted 17 October 2018 and 26 of its 31 provisions have been commenced. The major provisions that have been commenced include the following:From 12 November 2019 the Act prohibited:

- alcohol advertising in or on public service vehicles, at public transport stops or stations and within 200 m of a school, early years centre or a local authority playground. (Section 14)

- alcohol advertising in a cinema except around films with an 18 classification or in a licensed premises in a cinema. (Section 20)

-children’s clothing that promotes alcohol. (Section 17) From 12 November 2020, in mixed retail outlets alcohol products and advertising are confined to one of the following: - an area separated by a 1.2m high barrier, or - units in which alcohol products are not visible up to 1.5m height, or - up to three units that can be a maximum of 1m wide by 2.2m high.

In addition, alcohol products can be contained but not be visible in a unit behind the counter. (Section 22) From 11 January 2021 the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 (Sale and Supply of Alcohol Products) Regulations 2020 came into operation. The Regulations prohibit:- the use of bonus or loyalty card points in relation to alcohol products- the sale of alcohol products at a reduced price when sold with another product or service, and- the sale of alcohol products at a reduced price for a period of 3 days or less. From 12 November 2021 the Act provided for:- A prohibition on alcohol advertising on a sports area during a sporting event, at events aimed at children or at events in which the majority of participants or competitors are children. (Section 15)- Alcohol sponsorship of events aimed at children, events which the majority of participants or competitors are children and events involving driving or racing motor vehicles is prohibited. (Section 16) From 4 January 2022, minimum unit pricing, a prohibition on selling alcohol below a minimum unit price of 10c per gram of alcohol, came into operation. (Section 11) From 24 November 2022, an applicant for an intoxicating liquor licence must notify the Environmental Health Service in advance of an application and the Environmental Health Service may appear and give evidence at the court hearing on an application. (Section 4). Sections of the Act yet to be commenced Section 12 of the Act provides that the labels of alcohol products as well as notices in premises and on websites which sell alcohol shall include certain health warnings and information. Section 12 also empowers the Minister for Health to make regulations specifying the detail of these obligations. Once the regulations have been finalised the provision can be commenced. A draft of the regulations was submitted to the European Commission on 22 June 2022 for assessment of its alignment with single market principles. Section 13 of the Act regulates the content of advertisements for alcohol products and empowers the Minister to make regulations in relation to advertisements for alcohol products. Drafting on the regulations began with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on 23 June 2022.Section 18 of the Act restricts advertisements in publications and can be commenced after section 13 has been commenced. Section 19 of the Act introduces a broadcast watershed. Enforcement of the section will require coordination between the Environmental Health Service and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (Media Commission). Section 21 of the Act provides for a review of certain sections of the Act and can be commenced when the sections subject to review have been commenced.