238. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Health the steps her Department is taking to monitor and regulate the sale of high-caffeine fortified beverages which contain significant stimulant levels and an alcohol content of 15% ABV; if her attention has been drawn to the specific health risks these products pose to young people; the impact the Government’s decision to defer the implementation of Section 12 alcohol labelling regulations from May 2026 to September 2028 will have on consumer awareness of the risks associated with such products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29059/26]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health: The Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 regulates aspects of the promotion and sale of all alcohol products as defined in the Act including those products which contain other ingredients such as caffeine, The Act does not distinguish between products containing different additional ingredients as its objective is the reduction of health harms caused by alcohol.

The main provisions of the Act are:

• minimum unit pricing;
• health labelling of alcohol products;
• the regulation of advertising and marketing of alcohol products;
• the regulation of sponsorship;
• separation and reduced visibility of alcohol products in mixed trading outlets; and
• the regulation of the sale and supply of alcohol in certain circumstances.

The date of operation of the labelling provision in the Act was deferred by a decision of Government of 22 July 2025 in the context of trade considerations. No other changes have been made to the relevant legislation therefore the health warnings and information, as provided for by the Act and related regulations, will be required to be present on the labels of alcohol products on 3 September 2028 for the information of consumers.