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EU - Labelling the debate: a thematic analysis of alcohol industry submissions to the EU consultation on alcohol health warnings in Ireland

European Union

Jun 04, 2025

Building on the success of tobacco health warning labels, EU Member States and institutions are increasingly considering similar requirements for alcohol products. While industry responses to pricing and availability policies have been widely studied, their framing of Alcohol Health Warning Labels (AHWLs) as a policy solution remains comparatively underexplored. This paper examines how alcohol industry stakeholders responded to the EU notification process for Ireland’s proposed alcohol labelling regulations, introduced under Ireland’s Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.

Alcohol industry actors employ arguments similar to those seen in other policy debates, which continue to pose a significant barrier to evidence-based alcohol policymaking. The analysis suggests that industry actors can strategically adapt their arguments to varying institutional settings and policy instruments, demonstrating their political dexterity and reinforcing the barriers to policy progress. These findings highlight the need for further research into the alcohol industry’s influence and provide insights for jurisdictions considering labelling legislation.

 

Author(s):  Cott, É., Dunaiceva, J., White, P. et al

Published in: Global Health.

For further information, click on the: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01126-3
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