A leading medic says the Government has to push on with plans to put health warnings on alcohol products.

It emerged over the weekend that nine European countries have officially objected to the public Health Alcohol Bill.

Some of Europe’s biggest beer and wine producers – including France, Germany and the Czech Republic – say it will affect free trade which could lead to delays in the passing of the bill.

Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Cork University Hospital, says the measure is needed to deal with the crisis in our hospitals.

He said: “You know the fact, for example, that a glass of wine has the same amount of calories as a doughnut, that has to be on a label.

“Although there’s always cries of nanny-statism, the problem is that the State’s capacity to provide healthcare is seriously under threat because of lifestyle issues such as obesity, alcohol and other things.”