Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity and has significant public health implications in Ireland. As the amount of alcohol consumed in Ireland increased from the early 1990’s, so too did the related harms, to individuals and families, and to communities and wider society. A range of policy and legislative instruments have been deployed to mitigate the impact of alcohol related harms. This document summaries key milestones in policy and legalisation aimed at reducing alcohol related harms. It also provides an overview of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018.