Strict new alcohol laws a step closer

THE divisive Alcohol Bill has moved one step closer to becoming law after passing through the second stage in the Dáil.

The Bill is set to introduce minimum unit pricing as well as restrictions on advertising. It also raised controversy as it is set to impose new labelling requirements for products.

Retailers will also have to physically separate alcohol products in stores from other products. The debate on the controversial Public Health (Alcohol) Bill concluded in the Dáil yesterday and it has now been referred to committee stage.

During the debate yesterday, junior minister Catherine Byrne reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ‘restrict the amount of advertising that children are exposed to by creating alcohol advertising-free zones’ in certain locations such as parks and on public transport.

The Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland is calling on the Government to ‘make reasonable amendments’ to measures at committee stage, including the removal of the requirement for a cancer warning label on drink.

In the Dáil, Ms Byrne cited evidence from experts on cancer incidence she said was attributable to alcohol.