955. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the data available and its sources to support the case that alcohol labelling will economically damage the drinks sector in Ireland; to provide any evidence and its sources that such labelling has negatively impacted the sale of alcohol in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43597/25]

Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: The requirement for health warnings and health information on alcohol product labels was enacted under section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 on 17 October 2018. The Minister for Health made the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and commenced section 12 of the Act on 18 May 2023. The law is scheduled to come into effect on 22 May 2026.

Ireland remains a highly competitive country, ranked seventh globally for competitiveness this year. As a small, open economy, our competitiveness is critical – particularly amid recent global economic uncertainty. Notwithstanding this strong ranking, we cannot be complacent. The Government recognises there are areas where improvements can be made, and we must avoid taking steps that could erode the competitiveness of Ireland’s enterprise base. In this context, it makes sense to focus on factors within our direct domestic control.

I recently wrote to my Government colleague, the Minister for Health, regarding the alcohol labelling measures due to take effect in 2026. I expressed my concern that these proposals could increase production and sales costs for Irish producers and importers, potentially leading to higher prices for consumers at a time when costs are already rising due to multiple pressures. Alcohol labelling could place a particular burden on domestic producers, especially small breweries and distilleries, who face increased compliance costs. Foreign exporters to Ireland would also need to create custom labels, adding cost and logistical complexity – especially for smaller producers who depend on uniform EU labelling.

It is important to note that these changes are happening against a backdrop of deep uncertainty. Our domestic production sector is navigating significant supply chain disruptions and market access challenges, and there have been numerous media reports that multiple distilleries have halted production in recent months. While the health benefits of the measures are acknowledged, I requested that my colleague consider pausing their introduction. This would allow Ireland to work with the European Commission to develop harmonised EU-wide regulations, thereby avoiding regulatory fragmentation within the Internal Market and aligning with our broader trade objectives. It is important to note that when a single country introduces such measures independently, there is always a competitiveness risk.

A 2024 review in The Lancet Public Health – which examined 40 studies across multiple countries – found that labelling was linked to notable reductions in both alcohol consumption and sales, with the evidence for the sales impact regarded as being highly robust. This was particularly the case for labels displaying multiple, rotating messages.