The Department of Health or the HSE should take legal action to investigate whether the alcohol industry is circumventing child protection laws by marketing non-alcoholic products, a charity has said.
Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI) said these products use the same logo and brand as the parent alcohol brand and claims this breaches Irish health legislation.
The Department of Health said Minister Stephen Donnelly had asked officials, as reported in May 2023, to investigate whether advertising for non-alcoholic products was being used to promote full strength brands.
The department said this It is examining the evidence base “with a view to drafting legislation” but said any questions about legal enforcement of the law were a matter for local HSE environmental officers.
The AAI said that while advertising of alcohol on a sports pitch during a match is banned, advertising of non-alcoholic versions was common throughout the Six Nations rugby tournament, which ended at the weekend.
It states that under the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, “advertising” means any form of commercial communication with the aim or effect, directly or indirectly, of promoting an alcohol product.
In a statement, the AAI said: “Section 15 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 prohibits alcohol advertising “in or on the sports ground” during a sporting event, but you wouldn't know it from watching the Six Nations rugby tournament.” there was some change in the law.
“This is because the industry has simply given its commercial communications a 0.0, a move described by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly [in May 2023] as 'cynical'.”
It said the alcohol industry must be held to account for its alleged “sustained and egregious disregard for the law”.
AAI CEO Sheila Gilheany said: “A case needs to be made to test this in court. “We would like to find out whether the HSE and/or the Department of Health will take action on this and if not, why not.
AAI said research has shown that alcohol brand references occur every eight seconds at high-profile rugby matches – a sport, the charity said, which appears to have “been completely taken over by alcohol”.
Diageo's alcohol brand Guinness was said to now be sponsoring the women's Six Nations rugby tournament, which starts this week.
The HSE referred queries in this regard to the Department of Health.
In a statement, the ministry said: “Enforcement of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act is a matter for the relevant enforcement agency, the Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive.”
“The Health Minister has asked officials to investigate whether advertising for non-alcoholic products is being used to promote Whole Foods brands. The Ministry of Health reviews the evidence base with a view to drafting legislation.”
Drinks Ireland has been contacted for comment but has not yet received a response.
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