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

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.