he local and European drinks trade has reacted positively to Ireland’s delay of implementing health warnings and calorie information on alcoholic beverages.
Reports emerged last week indicating the government’s intention to delay putting the legislation into force.
Two senior government officials told Politico the move was being made due to fears of US tariffs affecting Ireland’s drinks exports.
In a statement, the Department of Health said: “Following the Government’s decision to defer the implementation of alcohol labelling requirements from 2026 to 2028, the Department of Health will arrange for the necessary amendments to the relevant regulations.”
National drinks trade body Drinks Ireland welcomed the delay. It said the move brings “much-needed relief” for producers, “and allows our exporters to focus their resources and efforts on market diversification and indeed, survival of their businesses”.
The Irish drinks sector is already facing “major trade uncertainty, new tariffs on product[s] entering our most important export market, the US, and threats of further tariff escalation”, the association said, adding while Irish producers are focused on exports, they also require a “strong, competitive domestic marketplace”.
The country passed the legislation in 2023. It required alcohol producers to include health warning labels on drinks labelling information for alcoholic beverages.
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