Laurence Dollimore
SPAIN has raised concerns over Ireland’s new bill tackling the sale of bargain booze.
The Public Health Alcohol Bill, currently in its second stage of approval, seeks to enforce mandatory health warnings, calorie labelling and a ban on TV adverts before 9pm.
Spain and ten other EU countries have issued concerns over its affect on their alcohol trade.
Ireland has until the end of July to issue a response to each member state, but insisted the bill is needed to tackle its binge drinking culture.
These moaning poison vendors would do well to realise their trade needs many more restrictions, not less. Puts one in mind of the fuss fag floggers made when their drug-pushing activities were curbed. They are still squealing like stuck pigs about it, while busily addicting less-aware Third-World countries.
So, if I read this right, Ireland sensibly want control the sale of alcohol to help reduce their drink problem among the populace, and the EU, via member Countries are MORE worried about not selling enough because of this ruling!. if this is the EU in practice, we are best out.
You didn’t read it right PJB. It said “Spain and ten other EU countries” are making objections. NOT the EU doing so. In haste to denigrate the EU, many “facts” get gleefully twisted.
Daresay America, Australia and other non-EU countries will moan just as much at threats to their booze trade.
Basically, eleven European countries have raised objections (at the EU level) about Ireland’s plans for health warnings on alcohol products. Nine of those countries, which include some of Europe’s biggest beer/wine producers, such as Spain, say it will affect free trade. Ireland has a drink-binging problem and it states that it needs the label changes on health grounds. Spain basically think free trade is more important than this aspect. PJB, as you can see, it’s nothing to do with a EU ruling stopping your ability to consume beer and wine. EU legislation has done a lot to assist with the quality of the food and drugs consumed in Europe, coincidentally.
However PJB does have a very valid point. If Ireland was not a member of the EU it would have the freedom of power to bring in this ruling. The EU does try to inflict a “one size fits all” policy and invariably ends up with a “nothing fits” policy. The EU should stick to what it was originally created for trade, not governmental policy.
Of course, the EU might do nothing Alan, and allow the drink health warnings to be used. The EU has been drawn into this debate, it did not create it.
24th June the beginning of the end of the EU,Brexit will liberate countries like Ireland from unnecessary Bureaucracy that doesn’t,t suit them and an added bonus getting rid of 5 un-elected bloated Presidents.
Jonathan, the EU have not stopped Ireland from doing anything with its alcohol. The other nine member countries raised the issue – blame them. Every day you are benefiting from EU laws on food safety, drug safety, food labelling and a whole host of other food and drug related issues without even knowing about it, but choose only to mention the same old rhetoric.
you’re putting the same anti-EU slant on this as PJB Alan. Ireland is free to put what restrictions it likes on the sale of booze. Which is why the UK has much greater taxation on the stuff than other EU countries. That is also supposed to cut consumption. Certainly no, “one size fits all” in this case.
Same thing applies to tobacco products. All part of “trade” by the way.