New HSE research showing that only 38 per cent of people in Ireland are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer highlights the need for the government to proceed with alcohol health warning labels, according to Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice.
Deputy Rice, who is the party’s spokesperson on health, said:
“This latest research is extremely timely given recent indications that the government – and Fine Gael in particular – intend to backslide on this crucial element of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.
“While only 38 per cent of people are aware of the link between alcohol and cancer, by contrast 76 per cent know that smoking causes cancer.
“Each year in Ireland there are approximately 1,000 alcohol-related cancer cases. Yet senior government ministers have signalled that alcohol labelling may be delayed due to the US tariff threats facing our economy.
“This is a spurious argument given that health labelling will only apply to alcohol products sold in Ireland. For imports, and indeed home-produced products, the onus is on retailers to ensure products are labelled, not producers. A supermarket or off-licence can simply add a sticker to the product, so the potential impact on the drinks industry has been greatly overstated.
“More than two decades ago, Taoiseach Micheál Martin pushed through the smoking ban in the face of heavy opposition and lobbying from the tobacco industry, publicans and even some members of his own party.
“He should now show that same leadership and ensure that his government introduces alcohol labelling as planned in May 2026.
“But today, when I raised this with him in the Dáil, he completely dodged the question. However, there is no dodging the facts.
“Today, the HSE unequivocally stated that alcohol causes cancer. It is therefore counterintuitive for the government to be rowing back on this essential public health measure.”
July 8, 2025