One third of space on alcohol bottles will be reserved for health warnings.
The Public Health Alcohol Bill has been passed in the Seanad this afternoon.
As a result, alcohol labeling will now display the health affects associated with consuming alcohol.
The Minister for Health, Simon Harris has accepted the changes, saying "We in Ireland have a serious problem."
"We drink too much alcohol and we drink in a way that is harmful to ourselves and those around us.
The statistics can still shock even if we have heard them before."
The news was welcomed by the Irish Cancer Society, who tweeted:
Many thanks and well done to Senator Nash and his colleagues for their sterling work in making this happen, and to Minister @SimonHarrisTD for supporting. A great example of politicians of all groupings working together in the interest of public health and cancer prevention! https://t.co/n1DBs6vMeL
— Irish Cancer Society (@IrishCancerSoc) December 15, 2017
While Senator Gerald Nash also expressed his pleasure at the decision:
Credit to @SimonHarrisTD for accepting an amendment from @labour & Sen Frances Black requiring that a warning on the link between alcohol & fatal cancers be carried in advertising content as well as on alcohol labels #phabsaveslives
— Gerald Nash (@geraldnash) December 15, 2017
Minister Harris says he expects to introduce minimum unit pricing, health labeling and regulation of advertising "as soon as possible."
