Why was rootbeer banned in Ireland?

Root beer was banned in Ireland primarily due to its content of sassafras oil, which contains safrole, a compound that was deemed potentially harmful and carcinogenic. In the 1960s, the Irish government prohibited the use of safrole in food and beverages, leading to the ban on root beer. Although it is no longer strictly enforced, the legacy of this regulation still affects the availability of root beer in Ireland today.