Threat of tightening from the EU

Swiss spirits industry fights back

SpiritSuisse is defending itself against the threatened tightening in the area of alcohol advertising and distribution. A more restrictive approach is demanded by the EU Commission, which is based on new scientific findings on the consequential harm of alcohol consumption.

As far as cancer is concerned, there is no such thing as safe alcohol consumption. This is the conclusion of Dr Nino Berdzuli, Head of the Division of Health Programmes Countries at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. "We have clear evidence that alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, can cause cancer," says Berdzuli.

For example, about 11 per cent of all cancer cases in Europe in 2018 causally linked to alcohol consumption were due to the daily consumption of less than 5dl of beer, 2 dl of wine or 6 cl of spirits. With increased alcohol consumption, the health risk would increase even more dramatically. The combined consumption of tobacco and alcohol is particularly critical.

For this reason, WHO-Europe wants to raise public awareness that even small amounts of alcohol can cause cancer. This is to be achieved by increasing excise duties, the comprehensive restriction of advertising on, or restricted sales hours in the retail trade for alcohol.

The EU Commission, for its part, has now taken initial action on the WHO fact sheet. This is despite the fact that the competences for alcohol legislation do not lie with the EU, but with the individual member states.

Advertising bans and warnings

For SpiritSuisse, the association of leading spirits producers and distributors in Switzerland, the measures planned by the EU are drastic and disproportionate. For example, all ingredients of alcoholic beverages are to be listed on the labels and nutritional information is to be provided.

We take health protection very seriously. But it is not acceptable that the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages (...) is demonised by blanket statements".

Peter Platzer, Managing Director of SpiritSuisse

In a further step, health warnings on bottles and cans are planned. Phrases such as "Alcohol endangers your health" and images of deterrent disease distortions, as known from tobacco products, will be proclaimed. The EU programme also includes advertising bans on online video platforms and very high alcohol taxes.

"We take health protection very seriously. And we do not close our minds to new, scientifically based findings on alcohol consumption. However, it is not acceptable that the moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages is demonised throughout Europe on the basis of a generically prepared fact sheet with drastic consequences for an entire economic sector via blanket statements," says Peter Platzer, Managing Director of SpiritSuisse in a media release.

Platzer is referring in particular to the EU's plans for written and pictorial warnings on bottles and cans of alcohol. SpiritSuisse will resolutely oppose such proposals in Switzerland at all levels.

spiritsuisse.ch

Product added to shopping cart.
0 Articles - CHF 0.00