Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has signed into law new regulations which will require all alcohol products to state their calorie content and the number of grammes of alcohol in the product.
The regulations will also require that all labels warn about the risk of consuming alcohol when pregnant as well as the risk of liver disease and fatal cancers.
Mr Donnelly said the new law is designed to give consumers a better understanding of the alcohol content and the health risks associated with consuming alcohol.
He said that food products already have health information on labels and alcohol is simply being brought into line.
However, he added that the new law will come into force in May 2026 to give businesses three years to prepare for the change.
Alcohol Action Ireland welcomed the new regulations pointing out that alcohol consumption is estimated to be the cause of 7% of female breast cancer cases in Ireland.
Minister Donnelly said: "I welcome that we are the first country in the world to take this step and introduce comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products. I look forward to other countries following our example."
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the HSE's National Clinical Lead for Addiction Services, Professor Eamon Keenan, welcomed the labelling plans.
He said medics and other groups had lobbied for the change for years.
Professor Keenan said this "innovative approach" will help educate people about the risks of alcohol and he believes other countries will follow suit.
"We're going to be able to get information out to people about the risks and harms associated with alcohol, as well," he said.
"So we would welcome this very much."
However, Drinks Ireland said significant international opposition from major trading partners to the alcohol labelling legislation remains and must be addressed by Government.
Up to 10 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and Cuba have raised comments and criticism through a World Trade Organisation notification process.
Drinks Ireland also said that the legislation will have a significant negative impact on Irish producers not only reputationally but logistically and in terms of massive additional costs.
"Unfortunately this is an example of zealotry rather than evidence-based legislation," said Cormac Healy, Director of Drinks Ireland.
"We would call on Government to urgently address these significant international concerns from the EU and beyond and explain why Ireland is going alone on alcohol labels at a time when harmonised labels are being planned across the EU."
