Which EU rules apply first?

The same as everywhere in the EU: the compulsory particulars of article 119 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, the allergens, and since 8 December 2023 the ingredients list and nutrition declaration of Regulation (EU) 2021/2117. The energy value and allergens are printed; the rest may sit behind a QR code.

What changes is the language. In English, the allergen line reads “contains sulphites” and the word next to the QR code is “ingredients”. The e-label page must offer English too. The complete EU list is in our labelling requirements guide.

What will Irish alcohol labels have to show?

Under section 12 of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018 and the Labelling Regulations of 2023, alcohol labels will carry health warnings, a pregnancy warning, the quantity of alcohol in grams, the energy value in kJ and kcal, and the address of the public health website.

  • “Drinking alcohol causes liver disease.”
  • “There is a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers.”
  • A warning about drinking during pregnancy, with a pictogram.
  • The quantity of alcohol in grams in the container.
  • The energy value in kJ and kcal.
  • “Visit www.askaboutalcohol.ie”.

When do the Irish rules apply?

From 3 September 2028. The Minister for Health deferred the start date from 22 May 2026 by two statutory instruments in July 2025 (Arthur Cox). Producers have time, but labels printed for long-lived wines today may still be on Irish shelves in 2028.

Does this affect wines sold in other EU countries?

No. The warnings are Irish rules for products sold in Ireland. A wine with a dedicated Irish label or a sticker applied by the importer meets them without changing the label for other markets. Drinks Ireland estimated the extra labelling cost at about 35 % for small producers.

What do producers most often get wrong in Ireland today?

Under the current EU rules, the usual gaps are the same as elsewhere: no energy value printed when the nutrition table is online, a QR code without the word “ingredients”, and an e-label with marketing. English is enough for Ireland, which makes it one of the easiest EU markets for language.

How should I prepare for September 2028?

Plan the Irish version when you next redesign your labels: a dedicated Irish back label, or a sticker applied by the importer. Measure the room the warnings take at the legal size, and calculate the grams of alcohol per container: for a 75 cl bottle at 13.5 % vol, 750 × 0.135 × 0.789 ≈ 80 g.

The format details of the warnings (size, position, pictogram) are set by the Irish regulations. We apply them to the labels of clients selling in Ireland before the start date, and we will update this page if the date moves again.

How do I prepare a back label for Ireland, step by step?

Start from your analysis and cellar records, write the text in the language of the market, check it against the EU and national rules, publish the e-label, then approve a proof before printing. The order matters: changing text after the layout is where most errors creep in.

  1. Collect the analysis of the vintage (alcohol, residual sugar, acidity) and the list of additives and fining agents used.
  2. Write the ingredients list and the allergen line in English: “contains sulphites”, and “ingredients” next to the QR code.
  3. Calculate the energy value per 100 ml and print it as “E (100 ml) = … kJ / … kcal”.
  4. From 3 September 2028, add the Irish health warnings, the grams of alcohol and the askaboutalcohol.ie line.
  5. Publish the e-label in English, without marketing or tracking, and test the QR code on several phones.
  6. Check the full proof at 1.2 mm of x-height before printing, and keep the file for the next vintage.

Is Ireland the only EU country with alcohol health warnings like these?

Ireland is the first EU country to adopt cancer and liver disease warnings on alcohol labels. Other member states have narrower rules, such as the French pregnancy warning. The EU has discussed health warnings at Union level, but no common rule has been adopted.

For a winery, this means the Irish label is a separate design question. A back label written for France, Germany and Italy will not carry these warnings, so wines for Ireland need their own version or a sticker.

Do the Irish warnings apply in Northern Ireland?

No. They are laws of the Republic of Ireland and apply to products sold there. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, with its own rules; for goods it follows EU product rules under the Windsor Framework, which do not include these Irish warnings.

Summary: a back label for Ireland

Summary: a back label for Ireland
PointWhat to put
LanguageEnglish (Irish may be added)
AllergensContains sulphites (and egg / milk if detectable)
Word next to the QR codeIngredients
Energy valuePer 100 ml under EU rules
From 3 September 2028Health warnings, pregnancy warning, grams of alcohol, kJ / kcal, askaboutalcohol.ie

Questions from winemakers

When do Irish alcohol health warnings start?

On 3 September 2028, after a deferral from the original date of 22 May 2026.

Do Irish health warnings apply to wine?

Yes. They apply to all alcohol products sold in Ireland, including wine, from 3 September 2028.

Can the Irish warnings be added with a sticker?

Labels must carry the warnings when sold in Ireland. A sticker applied before sale is a common way to adapt a label made for other markets; check the format rules of the Irish regulations.

Sources

Selection criteria: we cite official texts first (EUR-Lex, national law portals), then named surveys with their publisher.

Updated on November 2, 2026 by the WineLex team