EU: European officials gave up on a plan to regulate drinking more strictly

The alcohol industry in Europe escaped stricter regulation on October 24 when the European Union’s health commissioner appeared to give in to opposition from the industry and averted a political battle, Reuters communicated October 25.

In a much fought-over strategy to tackle alcohol abuse, Commissioner Markos Kyprianou gave up on Europe-wide legislation similar to the Union’s strict antitobacco laws.

The European Union remains the heaviest drinking region in the world, with 55 million adults estimated to drink at harmful levels.

“Binge drinking is the big problem of the European Union,” Mr. Kyprianou said at a news conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. “Over all, there are fewer people who drink, but those who drink, drink more.”

He pointed to an increase in excessive drinking among young people. Over 25 percent of male deaths and 10 percent of female deaths in the 15-29 age group are related to hazardous alcohol consumption, the latest European Commission figures show.

Mr. Kyprianou complained of fierce lobbying by the alcohol industry but denied that had influenced him to drop measures like a ban on sponsorship and advertising, warning labels and an Union-wide minimum drinking age of 18.

“It has not been watered down,” Mr. Kyprianou said, adding that he never intended to link alcohol and tobacco legislation.

The European Commission paper says the strategy should complement national policies, not enact new rules.

As such, Brussels will set up an Alcohol and Health Forum based on the industry self-regulation approach that it took last year to combat obesity.

The commission document highlights five areas that member states and industry should address: protecting children and young people; reducing injuries and death from alcohol-related road accidents; preventing alcohol-related harm among adults and in the workplace; raising awareness of the risks of alcohol consumption; developing a Union database of evidence.

Both industry and European Union officials said Mr. Kyprianou had initially planned prohibitive alcohol legislation.

Mr. Kyprianou, a Cypriot, denied that this was ever the case, accusing industry lobby groups of “tilting at windmills.”

Stricter rules would have needed the approval of the 25 European Union commissioners, health ministers and the European Parliament. That seemed unlikely after what has been described as the heaviest lobbying campaign ever seen in Brussels.

“The cultural differences on alcohol around the commission table, within the member states and the Parliament were just too much,” an industry official said.

Nordic countries, led by Finland, which holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, pressed Mr. Kyprianou to introduce stiffer measures. But Mediterranean states and most of the 10 new member states from Eastern Europe opposed compulsion, officials said.

Another commission source said Mr. Kyprianou was set to drop the idea of European Union legislation on smoke-free zones, which even his own health experts see as unnecessary.

Industry groups were quick to welcome Mr. Kyprianou’s proposals. The European spirits organization praised a “balanced approach.”

The industry-financed European Forum for Responsible Drinking said Mr. Kyprianou “should be applauded for not being hijacked.” The Brewers of Europe pledged to take part in the planned forum.

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