Opinion

Joe Lynam: Donnelly’s plan for wine cancer labelling leaves a sour taste for EU

The health minister’s planned cancer warning on wine is more than a little ironic, and unlikely to have the intended result

Stephen Donnelly, has signed into law (though officially only the President can do that) a new health labelling act (Public Health Alcohol Act) which requires a warning on bottles that wine could give you cancer. Picture: Rollingnews

There was a time when there were only four types of wine on Irish supermarket shelves: Black Tower, Piat D’Or, Blue Nun and Margaux. I’m just kidding. Margaux was just thrown in there to see if you’re awake.

The Irish wine bore had yet to be invented. As for the terminology of tasting: a ‘note’ was what you gave the barman for a few pints, while a ‘bouquet’ was something you purchased in Eyre Square or Moore Street or saw on Keeping Up Appearances.