Written answers

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Department of Health

Liquor Licensing Laws

4:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 31: To ask the Minister for Health if he has reviewed the recent Blanchardstown Alcohol Strategy 2012-2014; his views on whether any of the objectives especially in terms of supply, reduction and enforcement will be rolled out on a nationwide basis; his views that it will be useful to introduce a system of labelling for all alcohol products as is already legislated for under Section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16282/12]

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Health if he has made any proposals to the Department of Justice in terms of the labelling of all alcohol items that are on sale through Section 22 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 or any other legislative mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16281/12]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 67 together.

My Department has received the strategy referred to by the Deputy and the pillars on which it is based - such as Prevention, Education, Supply, Treatment & Rehabilitation and Research and Monitoring, were equally encompassed in the recently published report of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group; and hence, the areas that are common to both will at the very least feature in an Action Plan that I envisage being developed on the National Substance Misuse Strategy - in advance of proposals being drafted for Government.

The National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group reported that it considered the possibility of regulations requiring the specific labelling of alcohol containers in order to combat secondary purchasing of alcohol; however, the Group accepted in its report that practical and legal issues preclude this approach; and hence the question of making proposals to the Department of Justice and Equality on this matter has not arisen. The recommendation though of the National Substance Misuse Strategy Steering Group is relevant to the general issue of labelling since it recommended that 'labels on alcohol products sold in Ireland should include the number of grams of alcohol per container, along with calorific content and health warnings in relation to consuming alcohol in pregnancy.' This recommendation will be taken into account when developing the Alcohol Action Plan.

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