Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she proposes to follow the example of France and put warning labels on containers of alcohol; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39785/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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A strategic task force on alcohol was established to recommend evidence based measures to prevent and reduce alcohol related harm and published two reports with over 100 recommendations, including a recommendation on labelling.

A working group on alcohol was recently established to help mobilise the stakeholders through social partnership to achieve a targeted and measurable reduction in alcohol misuse. The working group operates in the context of the special initiative on alcohol and drug misuse under Sustaining Progress.

The working group is comprised of the social partners, the relevant Government Departments, the Garda, the national drugs strategy team and the Health Service Executive. The working group is seeking to agree a programme of actions which can deliver targeted results in respect of underage drinking, binge drinking and drink driving. It is expected to produce a set of recommendations in late 2005.

A new EU alcohol policy is currently being developed. Ireland is playing a lead role in trying to gain consensus on many issues, including the labelling of alcohol containers. The issue of warning labels has also been discussed by the social partners at meetings of the working group on alcohol.

It should be stressed that while placing warning labels on beverage containers would have some effect in raising awareness, the international evidence suggests that this should not be a lead strategy to tackle alcohol related harm.