Europe signs up to Beer Constitution
The first European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) constitution will be signed on 24 June.
The EBCU, formed in 1990, is made up of beer consumer groups from 13 countries and represents over 130,000 beer drinkers across Europe.
The over-riding aim of the organisation is to ensure there will still be a wide choice of craft brewed beers available for future generations.
"In a climate where the big brewers continue to get bigger and bigger and lose all contact with their original routes, axing local beer brands and closing breweries it is essential that the beer drinkers of Europe stand up for local quality beer and fight to protect and promote Europe's beer heritage," said ECBU chairman Terry Lock.
"The latest proposed mega-merger, between InBev and Anheuser-Busch will, if it succeeds, create a brewer with almost 25% share of the world beer market.
"How many more local beer brands will be lost whilst this new brewing giant concentrates on promoting its global beer brands?"
"It is essential that Europe's Beer drinkers come together to fight the threats posed by globalisation in beer market. The member organisations of EBCU have shown that beer drinkers can reach agreement to enable the consumer's voice to be heard more clearly in the corridors of Brussels and Strasbourg.
The ECBU objectives are:
• The promotion of Europe's beer culture• The promotion of traditional beer styles• The promotion of diversity and consumer choice• To enhance the image of beer• To represent the interests of consumers
EBCU's priorities are:
• Competition and choice in the European Beer Market• Taxation• Empowering the consumer
In the years since EBCU was founded there has been a renaissance of brewing in many countries of Europe, samples from some of these will be available to toast EBCU's 18th Birthday at the Brewers of Europe House on 24th June.
