Proposed alcohol liberalisation legislation in Ireland: a clear & present danger to public health
PDF

Keywords

Alcohol
Alcohol Control
Alcohol Policy
Health Promotion
Ireland

How to Cite

1.
Proposed alcohol liberalisation legislation in Ireland: a clear & present danger to public health. MIR [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 1 [cited 2026 Jan. 19];31(123):57-61. Available from: https://interrev.com/mir/index.php/mir/article/view/235

Abstract

Alcohol is a Commercial Determinant of Health (CDoH) that results in significant levels of morbidity and mortality. These negative impacts are evident both globally and in Ireland. In response to this threat, the Irish Government passed the Public Health (Alcohol) Act, 2018. This legislation contained important alcohol-control initiatives,  including Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP), controls on alcohol advertising, and the mandatory forthcoming introduction of alcohol warning labels. However, the Irish Government is currently considering new legislation to support the night-time economy that would jeopardise these positive developments. This commentary argues against the proposed legislation and calls for a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to explore its potential impacts.

PDF

References

Doyle A, Mongan D, Galvin B. Alcohol: availability, affordability, related harm, and policy in Ireland. HRB Overview Series 13. Dublin: Health Research Board; 2024. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/40465

O’Neill D, Ni Luasa S, Lyons S, Carew AM. 2023 Alcohol Treatment Demand. HRB Bulletin: National Drug Treatment Reporting System. Dublin: Health Research Board; 2024.

Mialon M, Larkin J, Patton C et al. The commercial determinants of health in Ireland: fueling an industrial epidemic at home and abroad. BJGP Open. 2024; 8(2): BJGPO.2024.0029. https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2024.0029

World Health Organization. Commercial determinants of non-communicable diseases in the WHO European Region. Geneva: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2024.

World Health Organization. Global alcohol action plan 2022–2030. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024.

GBD (2019) Risk factors collaborators. Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet, 2020; 396: 1990–2019.

GBD (2019) Risk factors collaborators. Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet 2024; 403: 2162–2203.

Maani N, Petticrew M, Galea S. The Commercial Determinants of Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2022.

Houghton F. A Perfect Demonstration of the Absence of Leadership: Alcohol Policy in Ireland. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2012; 2993: 145-146.

Government of Ireland. Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018. Dublin: The Stationery Office; 2018.

Critchlow N, Houghton F. The importance of continued and full implementation of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2023; 1-2. doi:10.1017/ipm.2023.24

Critchlow N, Moodie C, Houghton F. Brand sharing between alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic offerings: A challenge to Ireland’s restrictions on alcohol advertising. Irish Journal of Medical Science. 2023; 192: 1975–1977. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-03161-0.

Houghton F, McInerney D. The Public Health (Alcohol) Act: Spatial issues and glaring gaps. Irish Geography. 2020; 53(2): 145-149.

Houghton F. Ireland's Public Health (Alcohol) Act, 2018: A lack of enforcement. Journal of Public Health. 2023; 45(1): e130–e131. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab397

Houghton F, Houghton S. Ireland and Alcohol: An Uneasy Relationship. In C. Lewis (ed.) Ireland: Economic, Political and Social Issues, pp.77-92. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Publishers; 2013.

Government of Ireland. Sale of Alcohol Bill (SoAB) 2022. Dublin: The Stationery Office; 2022.

Commission on Liquor Licensing. Second Interim Report. Dublin: Commission on Liquor Licensing; 2002.

Paul M. The lights were flashing years ago for the states decrepit system for pub licensing. The Irish Times, 28 October 2022. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/10/28/the-lights-were-flashing-years-ago-for-the-states-decrepit-system-for-pub-licensing/

Dáil Debate 1 May 2024. https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-05-01/197/.

WHO. Tackling NCDs Best Buys. Geneva: WHO; 2017. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/259232/WHO-NMH-NVI-17.9-eng.pdf.

Bartlett O. The Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022): An analysis of children's rights impacts. Ireland: Alcohol Forum Ireland; 2023.

Babor TF. The Sale of Alcohol Bill (2022): An analysis of costs and benefits. Ireland: Alcohol Forum Ireland; 2023.

Wilson IM, Graham K, Taft A. Alcohol interventions, alcohol policy and intimate partner violence: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14: 881.

Trangenstein PJ, Eck RH, Lu Y et al. The Violence Prevention Potential of Reducing Alcohol Outlet Access in Baltimore, Maryland. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2020; 81: 24-33.

Fitterer JL, Nelson TA, Stockwell T. A Review of Existing Studies Reporting the Negative Effects of Alcohol Access and Positive Effects of Alcohol Control Policies on Interpersonal Violence. Frontiers in Public Health. 2015; 3: 253.

Horsefield OJ, Lightowlers C, Green MA. The spatial effect of alcohol availability on violence: A geographically weighted regression analysis. Applied Geography. 2023; 150: 102824.

Livingston M. Alcohol outlet density and harm: Comparing the impacts on violence and chronic harms. Drug and Alcohol Review. 2011; 30: 515-523.

Houghton F. Alcohol Retail Liberalization and Domestic Violence in Ireland: A Warning. Journal of Global, Public and One Health. 2024; https://jgpoh.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Houghton-F-et-al.-Sexual-Domestic-2024-01-02.pdf.

Houghton F, Lombard J. An Examination of the Enforcement of Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018: A Paper Tiger. ADDICTA: Turkish Journal on Addictions. 2025. DOI: 10.5152/ADDICTA.2024.24165

Doyle A, Houghton F. Alcohol availability and accessibility around schools in Ireland: An examination of liquor licences proximity. Irish Journal of Medical Science. 2023; 193: 1109–1110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-023-03514-3

Doyle A, Foley R, Houghton F. A spatial examination of alcohol availability and the level of disadvantage of schools in Ireland. BMC Public Health. 2024; 24: 795.

Leung JYY et al. Assessing alcohol industry penetration and government safeguards: the International Alcohol Control Study. BMJ Glob Health. 2024; 9: e016093. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2024-016093

O'Halloran M. Drinks industry lobbyists met Government members and officials 361 times in 2018. The Irish Times, March 9th 2020. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/drinks-industry-lobbyists-met-government-members-and-officials-361-times-in-2018-1.4197333.

Lesch M, McCambridge J. Understanding the Political Organization and Tactics of the Alcohol Industry in Ireland 2009-2018. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2022; 83(4): 574-581. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2022.83.574.

McCambridge J, Mialon M, Hawkins B. Alcohol industry involvement in policymaking: a systematic review. Addiction. 2018; 113(9): 1571-1584.

Hope A. The Influence of the Alcohol Industry on Alcohol Policy in Ireland. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2006; 23(6): 467-481.

Babor TF, Casswell S, Graham K et al. Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2022.

Obe G, Ristow H. Mutagenic, cancerogenic and teratogenic effects of alcohol. Mutat Res. 1979; 65(4): 229-59. doi: 10.1016/0165-1110(79)90004-6.

Obe G, Anderson D. Genetic effects of ethanol. Mutat Res. 1979; 186(3): 177-200. doi: 10.1016/0165-1110(87)90003-0.

Pyper R, Cave B, Purdy J, McAvoy H. Health Impact Assessment Guidance: A Manual. Standalone Health Impact Assessment and health in environmental assessment. Dunlin & Belfast: Institute of Public Health; 2021.

World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. A place in the public health toolbox: policy brief on health impact assessments and incorporating health into environmental assessments. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2023.

Edwards R, Bullen C, Hoek J. Public health vandalism: new Government scraps world-leading smokefree legislation. NZMJ. 2023; 136(1587): 9–11.