Alcohol Labels to Include Health Warnings and Calorie Content
Health Warnings
Alcohol Labels to Include Health Warnings and Calorie Content
Words: Shamim de Brún
Images: Unsplash
As of 2026, all alcohol products will have to shout from the rooftops their calorie content as well as the exact number of grammes of alcohol stuffed inside the bottle.
In an unexpected move, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has signed off on these ‘shocking’ new alcohol regulations despite a lot of pushback from Europe. This is because there’ll also be a warning label to remind folks about the ‘serious health risks’ associated with consuming alcohol during pregnancy, as well as the potential for liver disease and fatal cancers.
Mr Donnelly reckons this new legislation will give the public a better understanding of just what they’re guzzling – and probably give us all a bit of a slap in the face too. Hell, every packet of biscuits has a rundown of its nutritional content, so why shouldn’t the drink that’s melting all your sorrows away, right?
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, as the law won’t come into effect until 2026. That at least gives us three glorious years to binge drink until our livers are no bigger than a walnut.
The folks over at Alcohol Action Ireland have applauded the new rules and reminded us all that consuming alcohol is thought to be responsible for a whopping 7% of breast cancer cases in Ireland. But despite all the warnings, the Minister’s optimistic and even looking forward to other countries following in our sober footsteps. Cheers to that!
Minister Donnelly said: “I welcome that we are the first country in the world to take this step and introduce comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products. I look forward to other countries following our example.”
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