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Support for alcohol policies and its association with knowledge of alcohol-related health consequences: findings from Ireland compared with four other EU countries
by Anne Doyle
Background
Alcohol use is a major global health burden. However, effective alcohol policies are often challenging to implement due to public and political resistance. Research shows that where public knowledge of the risks associated with alcohol use (particularly about the risk between alcohol and cancer) support for stronger policy measures increases. A study conducted with respondents in five European Union (EU) countries, including Ireland, examined how knowledge of alcohol-related harms influences policy support and whether this relationship differs by policy type.1
Here, we examine findings from the Irish respondents and how they compare with the four other EU countries.
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EU drugs strategy
by Lucy Dillon
In early December 2025, the European Commission published the new EU Drugs Strategy.1 The strategy is structured around five pillars (see Figure 1,) each of which is made up of a set of strategic priorities. It summarises the key priorities and how they relate to delivery at the levels of the European Commission, the European Drugs Agency (EUDA) (and other relevant EU agencies), and Member States. The pillars and key priorities, as presented in the strategy document, are outlined below.
Pillar 1: To enhance EU and national preparedness to anticipate and respond to drug-related health and security threats
Key priorities
The European Commission and Member States, with the support of relevant EU agencies, should:
- facilitate knowledge sharing and the identification of research priorities via research dialogues
- coordinate operational support and dissemination of innovative practices and solutions to relevant actors in the drug sector.
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Draft national drugs strategy 2026–2029
by Lucy Dillon
A draft of the new national drugs strategy 2026–2029 was published by the Department of Health in February 2026 for public consultation.1 It outlines the vision, pillars, principles and enabling measures that will form Ireland’s “integrated, equitable and evidence-based response to drug and harmful alcohol use” (p. 1).1
A strategy for alcohol and other drugs
As with its predecessor, the draft strategy is concerned with the use of alcohol and other drugs. The draft strategy describes its approach to ‘drug and harmful alcohol use’, with harmful alcohol use defined as “patterns of alcohol use that result in adverse physical or psychological harm or lead to dependency on alcohol, including alcohol use disorder” (p. 7).1
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