Mayo minister accused of 'parroting industry misinformation' on alcohol labelling

A Mayo minister has been accused of 'parroting industry misinformation' following Dáil comments regarding the introduction of alcohol health information labelling.

Mayo TD and Minister of State Alan Dillon was one of a number of Fine Gael TDs who recently suggested the introduction of alcohol labelling may be delayed because of the possible impact of US tariffs on the global trade environment.

The labels which are due to come into effect on May 22, 2026 warn about the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers from alcohol consumption and the risk of drinking while pregnant. They also list the calories in the product and the number of grams of alcohol.

Speaking on the issue in the Dáil this morning, Minister Dillon, who is Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, said that he was not trying to undermine public health but stated that the legislation comes at a time when many businesses are struggling with uncertainty.

“I have a duty to defend the interests of Irish indigenous SMEs who are facing unprecedented global trade pressures,” he said.

However, Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, stated they are bewildered by his comments on the issue in the Dáil.

AAI claimed that Minister Dillon along with some of his party colleagues including Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris and Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke of 'parroting industry misinformation linking global trading concerns brought on by US tariffs to the Irish health issue of labelling, which have no bearing on each other whatsoever'.

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AAI CEO Dr Sheila Gilheany said: “Minister Dillon stood up in the Dáil and said his Department was looking for ‘economic realism’ in terms of labelling’s implementation, which makes one wonder exactly what reality he is living in.

“Some of our senior politicians seem to be living in the disinformation space created by the alcohol industry around labelling. The reality is that while tariffs may have changed the trading environment, the one constant is the alcohol industry’s long-running and fierce opposition to these regulations, which were subject to more than 1,000 days of debate in the Oireachtas and were opposed at every turn by industry.

Health Issue

“To be clear, labelling of alcohol products is a health issue and has nothing to do with Ireland’s exports as the regulations only apply to products sold in Ireland, while in relation to imports, or home-produced products, the legal onus is on retailers, not producers/manufacturers, to ensure products are labelled. Therefore, a supermarket, or off-licence, can simply add a sticker to the product.

“The reality is also that labels are already here both in law and on the shelves, as they have started to appear on some alcohol products ahead of their mandatory introduction next year. Businesses in countries as diverse as Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Spain are now labelling their products in the entirely reasonable expectation that Ireland is implementing its stated law.

“They’re here and the world hasn’t caved in like some would have us believe. Why then are some people in government talking about hiding the facts from the public, which is what delaying these regulations would mean? Let’s not forget, people have a right to know the risks associated with alcohol consumption and to make informed decisions.”

Minister Dillon made his comments in response to a question from Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney and Dr Gilheaney accused the former Mayo GAA footballer of putting 'yet more external pressure on the Health Minister to backtrack on agreed government policy'.

Betrayal

She called on the Minister of Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to 'stand firm in the face of colleagues' confusion'.

“The Programme for Government committed to tackle harmful alcohol consumption through effective regulations. Why then are some elements in government undermining this commitment, which makes the government look confused about its own policy, as if the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing? Surely Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, will not be allowing a health harming industry to undermine her own department’s clear policy in this area?

“This confusion frankly must be embarrassing for Micheál Martin considering his high standing internationally for his leadership around smoking regulations. The eyes of the world are on Ireland once again and there is little doubt that, just like with the smoking ban, other countries will follow suit on health information labelling. Any move to backtrack now would be a betrayal of Ireland’s health and democratic processes,” she said.