Alcohol
A million pre-paid beers await drinkers as Europe’s bars reopen
As bars across Europe gradually reopen, up to a million free or pre-paid beers are waiting to lure back wary consumers.
From Prosecco to Chianti, coronavirus sours Italy’s wine sales
With Italy's restaurants and bars closed for another month and global trade snuffed out by the coronavirus, the world's top wine producing country is experiencing an existential crisis.
EU sees wine consumption, exports dry up as consumers stay home
Wine consumption in the European Union is expected to fall this season due to the decision to close bars and restaurants to contain the coronavirus, with exports hit by extra US tariffs, the EU's executive said on Monday (20 April).
How biofuels enter the race against the coronavirus pandemic
For 2020, hand sanitisers and disinfectants are what new iPhones and electric vehicles were for 2019. So, who are the Apples and Teslas of ethyl alcohol, asks Zoltán Szabó and explains how a climate solution is being turned into health assistance.
Beer, wine, spirit makers pledge age-restriction labels on drinks
Twelve leading beer, wine and spirits companies have pledged to put clear age-restriction labels on their drinks and set tighter controls on access to their online content in a bid to reduce underage drinking.
Outgoing Commissioner Andriukaitis suggests disbanding EU alcohol forum
The EU Alcohol and Health Forum (EAHF), which aims to tackle alcohol-related harm, should come to an end because its stakeholders have not been able to find common ground, the outgoing EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis has said.
Alcohol could cause new EU health chief headache
The European spirits industry has called on Stella Kyriakides, EU Commissioner-designate for health, to revive the European Alcohol and Health Forum, which has been inactive since 2015 after twenty public health NGOs decided to pull out.
Two-thirds of deaths of under 75-year-olds could have been prevented
In 2016, the deaths of 1.2 million Europeans under 75 were considered premature and could have been prevented, according to a report by Eurostat. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Spirits industry bets on online tools for consumer information
The European spirits industry launched a new web portal on Tuesday (12 March) to provide more consumer information on liquors and other distillates. However, it is still unclear whether such initiatives are in line with the European Commission's objectives.
Quality wine consumption is best way to tackle binge drinking, wine sector says
Getting drunk is not the point of drinking wine, representatives from the wine sector said at a EURACTIV event to celebrate 10 years of an international programme that promotes a satisfactory and healthy approach to wine consumption.
The future role of wine in society
The EU Alcohol and Health Forum, chaired by the European Commission, was established in June 2007. The Wine in Moderation programme was the commitment of the EU wine sector to the Forum.
Pernod Ricard CEO: Informed consumers will make healthier choices
“Information is power,” the boss of French spirits maker Pernod Ricard told EU policymakers last week, underlining the fundamental role of consumer education in reducing alcohol abuse, particularly among students.
Partnerships for Good! Empowering students for well-being in a responsible and active Europe
2019 is a decisive year for the future of Europe. The voice of European students deserves to be heard to understand what they expect and how Europe can empower them to build a responsible, active and healthy Europe.
Irish Senate passes alcohol law, introducing minimum price and labelling
For the first time, Ireland has adopted legislation on the risks associated with alcohol, in a country where alcoholism has had devastating consequences. EURACTIV France’s media partner Ouest-France reports.
EU Commission seeks ‘quick fix’ solution on alcohol labelling proposals
The European Commission is pushing for a “quick fix” solution to the alcohol labelling deadlock before the end of its mandate, an official close to the issue told EURACTIV.com.
Beer boss: Mandatory alcohol labelling should respect EU food information to consumers law
If EU legislators decide to move away from self-regulation in the area of alcohol labelling, the legislation should respect the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation, Pierre-Olivier Bergeron, the secretary-general of the Brewers of Europe told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Commission: There are legal issues with industry’s proposal on alcohol labelling
The industry’s proposal on alcohol labelling has some legal issues and does not satisfy the need to fully inform EU consumers, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com, raising fresh doubt as to how and when labelling will eventually be regulated.
MEPs ask Commission to reject industry’s alcohol labelling proposal
A group of MEPs has called on the European Commission to turn down an industry proposal on alcohol labelling, claiming that alcoholic beverages should no longer enjoy a preferential regime compared to other foodstuffs.OpinionPromoted content
What’s in a beer? The road ahead for consumers’ right to know
Beer drinkers like clear, consistent, honest communication. That’s why Europe’s brewers have voluntary committed to providing consumers with the list of ingredients and nutrition information in full accordance with EU law, a decision welcomed by policymakers and NGOs alike.
Wine industry wants its products’ labelling in the next CAP
The wine industry is pushing for the inclusion of its products’ labelling proposals in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in order to give self-regulation a “legal basis and certainty”.
EU health chief not satisfied with industry’s alcohol labelling proposal
EU Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis is not pleased with the “inconsistent” proposal recently submitted by the alcohol industry on labelling and insisted that European consumers should be presented the full information of the products they purchase.
Scotland rolls out minimum alcohol pricing after years of legal blocks
Scotland on Tuesday (1 May) introduced minimum pricing for alcohol, in what First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hailed as a "bold" and "brave" policy move that has endured years of legal battles.
Alcohol labelling proposal fails to end debate on calories
The alcohol industry presented on 12 March their self-regulatory proposal on labelling, focusing on “flexibility” for wine, beer, spirits and cider. Alcohol makers will be free to decide whether to place information on the label, online or both.