FOR YOUR INFORMATION
We share below a number of recent developments. As always, we rely on FIVS Members to apprise us of noteworthy matters. Please contact the FIVS Secretariat with items that may be of interest.
Labelling Event
European Union: Launch of CEEV’s e-label platform on 30 September 2021 – Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) and spiritsEUROPE will launch U-LABEL, its new platform allowing wine and spirits companies to create e-labels easily, providing consumers with relevant and transparent information in their own languages. The e-labels will include an ingredient list, nutrition declaration, and information regarding the product’s sustainability and responsible consumption. See CEEV’s invitation here to follow the event live on YouTube, interact with the panel via Zoom, or join the event in person (spots limited due to COVID-19).
Pricing
Canada: FIVS expresses concern over British Columbia pricing practices – As previously reported, FIVS expressed concerns about the use of non-transparent variable mark-ups on wine, beer, and distilled spirits sold by the British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch. The final letter sent to Canadian officials can be seen here.
Illicit alcohol
Kenya: Interior Cabinet Secretary accuses police chiefs and commissioners of frustrating crackdown on illicit alcohol – Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary reportedly accused police chiefs and county commissioners of frustrating government efforts to curtail the distribution of illicit alcohol. Speaking during the launch of the 30-day implementation of the Rapid Results Initiative on eliminating substandard and counterfeit alcohol drinks, he reportedly said that commissioners and police officers tasked with spearheading the crackdown accept gifts and money from manufacturers of illicit alcohol, who use official’s names to be cleared at police roadblocks.
World Health Organisation
Global: WHO webinar on preventing industry involvement in alcohol policy – A WHO webinar held on 03 September 2021 focused on preventing alcohol industry involvement in the development of public health policy, asserting that alcohol beverage corporations are not legitimate stakeholders in that process. The event’s agenda and speakers, which included the Head of Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, can be found here. Event sponsors included the Italian National Institute of Health, Movendi International, the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Americas/Pan American Health Organization, and the Less Alcohol Unit of the Department of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization headquarters. The session was held in English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Global: Updates re WHO Action plan (2022 – 2030) on reducing the harmful use of alcohol – The WHO Secretariat has reportedly made significant changes to the timelines for its action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol. The WHO Secretariat is now consulting informally with its Member States on the second draft of the action plan and will submit a final draft action plan for inclusion in the report to the 150th session of the Executive Board by mid-October 2021. The Secretariat also plans the release of its technical report on cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising, and promotional activities by November 2021.
Consumption
Ireland: Alcohol consumption at lowest level in 30 years – According to Revenue Clearance figures, alcohol consumption in Ireland is at its lowest level in 30 years, falling by 10.8% during the first half of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020. Consumption was down across all categories: 15% for beer, 13% for cider, 11.5% for wine, and 0.3% for spirits. Although the decline was apparently accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, consumption has fallen generally in Ireland over the past 30 years.
Health
Global: Drinking during pandemic may result in more alcohol-related cancers – Participants in a study published with the National Center for Biotechnology Information who reported extreme stress due to the coronavirus also reported drinking 4.6 more alcohol beverage drinks during a 30-day period than non-stressed participants. Nearly two-thirds of the study participants reported that their drinking had increased during the pandemic. The authors cite a statistic that the share of their view of “alcohol-related global cancer cases” fell from 4.9% in 2019 to 4.1% in 2020, opining also that that cases of cancer can take years to develop.
England: Moderate consumption of alcohol-free wine also may lower risk of heart disease – A study on the impact of moderate alcohol consumption on health, published in the journal, Clinical Nutrition, found that individuals who drank 4-5 glasses of champagne or white wine, or 8-11 glasses of red wine per week showed a decreased risk of ischemic heart disease. The same finding applied to those who drank alcohol-free wine. The study of 446,439 individuals conducted by researchers from Anglia Ruskin University also found that drinking a moderate amount of beer, cider, or spirits, on the other hand, was linked to a 10% increased risk.
Global warming
European Union: Climate change impacting vineyards in Spain and France – The effects of climate change are reportedly pushing Spain’s wine growers to plant grapes at higher altitudes where temperatures are cooler. Higher temperatures, which speed up the ripening of grapes, have moved harvest dates forward by 10-15 days during the past decade to early August when heat is intense. Although temperatures are cooler in higher altitudes, vines require protection from hail which is more common there. With rising annual temperatures, vineyards at higher elevations are also reportedly flourishing in France. Cooler temperatures, as well as new exposure and orientation to the sun, gradient, latitude, and airflow are contributing to new, unique microclimates.
NOTE: We make no warranty of any kind regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information in these FIVS Alerts; nor do we necessarily support or agree with views expressed or contained therein.