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.
Trade
European Union-United States: Temporary suspension of increase on American whiskey tariffs – Although 25% tariffs on U.S. whiskey and bourbon still remain in place, the European Union announced that it would temporarily suspend an expected doubling of those tariffs. The increase has reportedly been postponed for six months to allow the European Commission and the United States time to resolve mutual areas of concerns that address steel and aluminum excess capacity and the deployment of effective solutions, including appropriate trade measures, to preserve critical industries.
United States: Legislation proposed to end ban on postal service shipments of alcohol – Bipartisan legislation has reportedly been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would end the ban on the U.S. Postal Service’s mailing shipments of alcohol beverages. The USPS Shipping Equity Act, which was introduced with 17 co-sponsors, would allow the U.S. Postal Service to ship licensed alcohol beverages directly to consumers over the age of 21, in accordance with state and local shipping regulations. The legislation would allow the Postal Service to develop its own regulations to ensure that alcohol beverages are safely delivered to consumers who meet identification checks.
In the News
You can read an engaging profile of FIVS Secretary Bruno Kessler – President of the French Association for Bottlers and Distributors and the Vice-President of ANIVIN de France – in this latest issue of Revue Française d ‘ Oenologie.
Drink driving
Industry partnering with UNITAR for anti-drink driving education – Industry has partnered with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to launch Wrong Side of the Road, an anti-drink driving interactive learning experience, in advance of the United Nations Global Road Safety Week. The program will be extended to India, Kenya, North America, and South Africa over the next 12 months. Data appears to suggest that the number of casualties from drink driving in the United Kingdom is the highest in ten years.
- Be sure to review the re-launched FIVS-Assure, our database of exemplary social responsibility initiatives, including in the area of drink-driving.
International Organisations
OECD report warns life expectancy will drop by one year over next 30 years due to alcohol consumption – The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, Preventing Harmful Alcohol Use – which analyses the cost of alcohol consumption in 52 OECD, European Union, and G20 countries – says alcohol-related diseases reduce life expectancy, increase health care costs, decrease the productivity of workers, and lower GDP. The report indicates that life expectancy will be 0.9 years lower over the next 30 years due to diseases and injuries caused by drinking more than 1 drink per day for women and 1.5 drinks per day for men, although the OECD’s estimate varies widely across countries. OECD policy recommendations include limiting the promotion of alcohol to children, better police enforcement to prevent alcohol-related traffic injuries, expanding coverage of counselling for patients with harmful alcohol consumption, and price policies to limit the affordability of alcohol. The full report, a policy brief, and country notes are available HERE.
- NOTE: FIVS’s Codex Alimentarius Task Force, chaired by Tim Ryan of E. & J. Gallo Winery, is addressing related issues. FIVS members interested in more information should please contact Laura Gelezuinas of the FIVS Secretariat.
Marketing & Advertising
New Zealand: Green party MP supports ending alcohol sports sponsorships – A Green Party Member of Parliament in New Zealand has reportedly proposed banning sports alcohol advertising and sponsorships in new legislation, following recommendations from the 2014 Ministerial Forum on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorships. The Auckland Central MP reportedly seeks “to remove that tether between the glorification, the glamorisation, and the normalisation of alcohol as worn on the chests of our sporting heroes”. Advertising would be prohibited, as would alcohol naming rights of venues, although exemptions would reportedly be considered for multinational events.
Study
China: Preconception alcohol consumption and risk of miscarriage – A study published in the journal BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health sought to assess the impact of preconceptions regarding alcohol consumption on the risk of miscarriage. The study involved over 4.5 million Chinese women, aged 20-49, from 01 January 2013 to 31 December 2016. The study concluded that preconceptions regarding alcohol consumption were associated with higher odds of miscarriage and that an increasing risk was found with paternal and maternal alcohol drinking.
United States: Removing 50 ml wine and liquor bottles from Connecticut’s waste streams – Responding to a 10-cent deposit proposed by lawmakers for small 50 ml “nip” containers, wine and spirit sector suppliers, wholesalers, and package store retailers from Connecticut reportedly have proposed a two-part programme to prevent these containers from finding their way into rivers and streams. Merchants have reportedly proposed a 5-cent surcharge or eco-fee on the bottles, effective 01 October 2021, indicating that each wine and spirit wholesaler would remit nickel payments to the municipality where the 50 ml containers were sold in the preceding six months, distributing nearly $4.5 million to cities and towns. Customers would not need to return the 50 ml containers to the package stores in order for the towns to receive the money. The second part of the program would involve the creation of a task force to study the issue of bottle deposits on wine and spirit bottles. Over 85 million “nip” containers are sold in Connecticut each year.
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.