Could drink be heading the same way as tobacco?

Related tags Alcopop European union

Eurocrats are stamping down on the drinks industry and have warned the trade it must "put its house in order" or risk European intervention.Comments...

Eurocrats are stamping down on the drinks industry and have warned the trade it must "put its house in order" or risk European intervention.

Comments from EU health tsar Markos Kyprianou have raised new fears that drinking could become the new smoking, as health campaigners sense they are winning the battle against tobacco across the continent.

Mr Kyprianou, the European Union commissioner for health and consumer protection, said this week he would consider banning brewers from sponsoring sporting events, and that he would take action to stop youngsters from drinking "alcopops" or RTDs.

Mr Kyprianou conceded that although alcohol was harmless in moderation, binge-drinking was on the increase and alcopops were partly to blame for this.

"We believe this product encourages young people to drink," he said. "The industry does not agree. That's something we must discuss. If it's proved that the main market is the younger crowd, then something has to be done about it."

Mr Kyprianou's comments suggest that European health officials plan to take the same hard-line approach.

Steve Perez, managing director of GBL - which supplies Vodka Kick - said: "Many RTDs are lower in alcoholic strength than beers or ciders. To single out RTDs is missing the point. It seems RTDs are being used as a scapegoat for social problems.

"It is also interesting to note that in the UK, where binge-drinking is said to be on the increase, RTD sales are in decline."

James Eales, licensee of the King Edward VII in Stratford, East London, said alcopops currently accounted for approximately 15 per cent of his sales.

"I don't think they should be banned but maybe they could be packaged and marketed differently," he said. "As for sponsorship of sporting events - tobacco is much more harmful than alcohol. Tobacco advertising of such events should be banned - but alcohol advertising shouldn't."

Lindsay Melling, who runs the Duke of Portland in Northwich, Manchester, said: "It would have a very negative impact on the pub trade if brewers weren't allowed to sponsor major sporting events.

"As for alcopops we sell Smirnoff Ice and Bacardi Breezer but this only accounts for around five per cent of our drinks sales. However, I think it's ridiculous to talk about banning them - it's going a bit over the top."

A new health plan for Europe is set to be adopted by the European Commission next month.

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