Ireland Disputes Biden Cabinet Member’s Claims that US Pressured Liquor Labeling Restrictions

Ireland disputes Biden cabinet member’s claim that the United States encouraged the country to change its procedures involving new liquor labeling laws. (Photo: AP Photo/Times & Democrat, Larry Hardy)

The Irish Times reported on Wednesday that the country’s Department of Health is disputing a claim from a Joe Biden cabinet member that the U.S. pressured Ireland to change the procedures involving groundbreaking legislation concerning its liquor labeling laws.

Ireland vehemently insists those plans were already set into motion without a nudge from the U.S.

In May, The Guardian reported that Ireland’s Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly set into motion new labeling restrictions for alcohol brands to warn consumers about liver disease, cancer and the risks of drinking while pregnant. Beverage brands would be additionally required to list the calories and grams of alcohol as well. The new restrictions are scheduled to go into effect in 2026.

The United States claimed it raised concerns at the technical barriers to trade committee of the World Trade Organization, and this led Ireland to push back the transition period and offer “allowances” to those applying the health warnings, particularly importers.

A member of Biden’s cabinet, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, claimed that the U.S. was largely supportive of the initiative, but wanted the country to offer a longer lead time so businesses could adapt.

“While supportive of the goals of the regulation in June and November 2023, the United States raised procedural concerns about the regulation in the WTO TBT committee,” the report read, according to the Irish Times. “Ireland responded by extending the transition period and by permitting importers to affix stickers with the required information to imported products.”

Ireland is refuting Tai’s claims, insisting that the country already had the measures in place in the “original draft of the legislation.”

Ireland’s new labeling laws are the “first comprehensive health labeling of alcohol products,” according to the government. The legislation measures were met with opposition from members of the beverage industry.

“This law is designed to give all of us consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and health risks associated with consuming alcohol,” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said at the time. “With that information, we can make an informed decision about our own alcohol consumption.”

It appears Ireland is cracking down on alcohol in many different ways. In November, Ireland announced another measure of groundbreaking legislation: a ban on liquor commercials until after 9 p.m. Companies in violation of the law may be taken to court.

The timing of the new crackdown on the liquor front interestingly coincides with a study from The World Health Organization, which was released in January 2023.

The WHO claimed that no amount of alcohol consumption is safe, leading to a shift in the perception of alcohol and many country’s attempts to regulate it. Though the effects on those working in the beverage industry remain to be seen, many industry professionals are starting to worry.

“We are under attack from fundamentalists — people with ideology,” ViniPortugal President Frederico Falcāo claimed in response to the legislation.

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