Alcoholic drinks in Ireland will be labelled with cancer warnings under a groundbreaking law passed Wednesday, which also sets a minimum price in a bid to tackle a “corrosive” drinking culture.
Ministers say the bill, the first in Ireland to address alcohol as a public health issue, will help save lives.
Three years after being introduced, and against strong opposition from the drinks industry, the legislation was passed by the Seanad Eireann, the upper house of parliament.
It was adopted by the lower house Dail Eireann last week, and now only requires the approval of the president, a largely symbolic move.
Health minister Simon Harris said it was a “very special day”.
“Alcohol damages our health, it harms our communities, it hurts many families and the measures in this bill are designed to change that relationship,” he said. Read more