UK to avoid tough European alcohol crackdown
Britain looks set to avoid tough European regulation on selling and producing alcohol.
The European Commission has decided not to insist on a single policy to combat alcohol-related disorder across all member states, which could have meant things like higher alcohol taxes and product labelling.
Instead, the EC will set up a new body called the Alcohol and Health Forum for the trade, Government bodies and others to discuss best practice.
The EC will monitor the progress of the group under the new scheme, adopted today, called the Communication on Alcohol Strategy.
Wine & Spirit Trade Association chief executive Jeremy Beadles welcomed the move.
"We are pleased that the European Commission has recognised both that the issue is not alcohol itself but addressing misuse and harmful drinking behaviour by consumers and that there are different cultural habits related to alcohol consumption in the various member states.
"We are particularly pleased to see that the Communication has no specific plans related to alcohol taxation or product labelling and recognises the importance of joint industry - government work at a national level. Officials in DG Sanco, the EU Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General, have obviously listened to our concerns in these areas.
"It is clear that the Commission does not intend to implement the strategy through specific new legislative proposals, but rather by encouraging member states to take action at a local level on a number of priority alcohol-related themes, including young people and children, road accidents and impact of alcohol misuse on the workplace.
"We support the European Commission's view that information, education and awareness campaigns and agree that there is a need for better and more standardised data.
"The Communication also reflects the increasing efforts of those working in the trade to improve consumer education on all aspects of alcohol."
