Alcohol
Greece backtracks on ‘ineffective’ excise tax on wine
The Greek government will soon table an amendment to abolish excise duty on wine as it has not brought the desired financial results, Greek Minister for Agricultural Development and Food Evangelos Apostolou said.
EU health chief says all alcoholic beverages should be labelled
The European Commission wants the industry's expected alcohol labelling self-regulatory proposal to cover all alcoholic beverages in order to avoid confusion among consumers.
EU ignores calls for booze ban on flights
The European Commission does not intend to limit alcohol consumption during flights as it is a national competence, despite the fact that officials from popular tourist destinations requested its intervention.
Majority of Europeans face risk of digestive cancers due to alcohol, report claims
A new report has linked alcohol consumption in the EU to an increase in cases of digestive cancer and warned policymakers to take immediate action.
Greek court hands Heineken record fine for market abuse
A Greek court has imposed a €26.7m fine on Heineken subsidiary Athenian Brewery for abusing its dominant position in the Greek beer market over more than two decades.
Alcohol makers brace for EU-wide mandatory labelling
Makers of spirits and beer are exploring self-regulatory solutions to show consumers the ingredients contained in the alcohol they drink. However, they find the Commission's timeline "too tight" and fear mandatory rules will eventually be imposed on them.
‘Traffic light’ food labels gain momentum across Europe
A UK scheme that labels pre-packed food in red, amber or green according to their level of healthiness was rejected by Mediterranean countries at EU level but is slowly gaining momentum across Europe.
Retailers fear tobacco-style restrictions on food and drinks
Governments across Europe have applied ever-more restrictive measures to the sale of food and drinks as a way of fighting obesity – a regulatory proliferation that is making retailers worried about new barriers to the EU’s single market.
Weighing the tradeoffs of joy versus long term health
Consumers make hundreds of choices every day, some of which imply weighing the tradeoffs of joy versus long term health. These are highly subjective decisions, and in a free society adult consumers should have the right to make these choices and not have them dictated to them by public health tsars, writes Fred Roeder.
Regulating consumers?
Over the years, sales and marketing restrictions have piled up on food, drinks and alcohol products. Some are now beginning to worry about a “slippery slope” where tobacco-style regulations – and taxation – are being applied to a whole range of consumer products in the name of public health objectives.
Beer-loving Czechs stub out cigarettes as pubs go smoke-free
Pubs in the Czech capital Prague filled up on Tuesday night (30 May) and some held special events as smokers lit up for the last time before a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants took effect.
Finland, UK and Ireland singled out in 2017 ‘Nanny State Index’
Usually praised by the EU for its highly competitive economy, Finland came under attack by a group of free-market think tanks on Wednesday (10 May) for pushing “paternalistic lifestyle policies” aimed at curbing consumption of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks.
Regulating consumers, ensuring public health?
Soft drinks, food, tobacco, alcohol and e-cigarettes are among the most regulated consumer products in Europe.
Lithuania’s new alcohol package raises eyebrows in industry
The Lithuanian government has unveiled new policy measures aimed at tackling alcohol-related harm, including increasing the legal age for buying and consuming alcoholic drinks.
Commission grants industry additional year to propose alcohol labelling information
Following a two-year delay, the European Commission presented its proposal on alcohol information on Monday (13 March), giving the alcoholic beverages industry an additional year to come up with a “self-regulatory” proposal.
Poverty and tobacco carry similar health risks, study finds
People on the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder may live two years less on average than those at the top, according to a large-scale study published Wednesday (31 January) in the British journal The Lancet.
Erasmus students bring ‘Responsible Party’ campaign to Brussels
The Erasmus Student Network has been running a campaign across Europe, supported by French spirits maker Pernod Ricard, with the aim of convincing students to adopt a “responsible” stance towards alcohol when going out to party.
Towards a more responsible lifestyle for European students?
The Responsible Party program is a partnership between the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and Pernod Ricard which endeavours to promote viable solutions to alcohol misuse and safe behaviour among young people.
Prevention is the name of the CVD game
Early prevention is the name of the game these days for the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) when it comes to tackling cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Counting the cost of cardiovascular disease
Death from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may have fallen substantially in the UK and across the world, but it remains the single biggest killer, and a sizeable economic burden.
Belgian beer culture added to UNESCO’s heritage list
Beer culture in Belgium was inscribed yesterday (30 November) on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Beer and spirit makers bicker over alcohol information campaign
A consumer advertising campaign launched in the Brussels metro by the European spirits industry has heated up the debate over EU rules related to alcohol labeling.
Welsh whisky wades into precarious Brexit world
EU rules are set to allow Wales to call itself a whisky producing nation, as the country prepares for the opening of its second distillery. But it is venturing into an industry that faces immense uncertainty because of the Brexit vote.
Ireland’s alcohol bill pleases EU health chief, irritates industry
The Irish government won praise from the EU’s Health Commissioner over a new bill, which imposes a stricter framework on alcohol consumption in Ireland, including a minimum unit price, labelling and marketing restrictions.