The Health Minister, Micheál Martin, is to lobby other EU member states to introduce restrictions on alcohol advertising similar to controls being drafted here.
Legislation being drawn up by the Government will only restrict alcohol advertising in Irish media, but will not affect advertising in broadcasts or publications from abroad.
At a meeting of health ministers in Cork today, Micheál Martin said he would be adopting a state-by-state approach to persuading other EU countries to impose restrictions similar to the Irish controls.
With alcohol consumption rates increasing, ministers spent almost two hours discussing a Swedish proposal to develop an EU strategy restricting the marketing and promotion of alcohol.
