Ireland will be the first country to place health warnings on alcohol.

Stephen Donnelly, Dublin’s Health Minister, signed on Monday new regulations that will warn drinkers of the health risks associated with drinking alcoholic beverages as well as the calorie content of the product.

Labels will not become mandatory until May 20,26.

The Irish Government said that the regulations will bring alcohol products into line with food packaging requirements.

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Mr Donnelly stated: “I am pleased that we are the very first country to introduce comprehensive health labels on alcohol products.

I look forward to seeing other countries follow our example.

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The ‘absurd cancer labels’ that pitted Ireland against Europe

Drinking and drug abuse is a way for many to “numb” the stress of high living costs.

Labels will warn of the dangers associated with drinking alcohol while pregnant. They may also include information about cancers that can be fatal and liver diseases.

Italy, Spain and other EU members have protested Ireland’s plan. They claim it could cause issues within the single market.

Coldiretti is the largest Italian farmer’s association. They called these “terrifying warnings” a “direct assault”.

It said that “the green light given by the European Union to alarmist wine labelling in Ireland represents an unsafe precedent, as it could open the door for other legislation capable of negatively impacting consumer choices.”