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Alcohol
Alcohol related harm is a major public health concern in the EU accountable for over 7% of all ill health and early deaths. Even moderate alcohol consumption increases the long term risk of certain heart conditions, liver disease and cancers, and frequent consumption of large quantities can lead to dependence.
The EU wants Member States to limit alcohol consumption, given the incidence of illness and premature death from alcoholic beverages. It therefore seeks to inform both public opinion and governments to the problems caused by alcohol and, where it can, seeks to introduce dissuasive or information measures. EU countries have the main responsibility for their national alcohol policy.
The EU wants Member States to limit alcohol consumption, given the incidence of illness and premature death from alcoholic beverages. It therefore seeks to inform both public opinion and governments to the problems caused by alcohol and, where it can, seeks to introduce dissuasive or information measures. EU countries have the main responsibility for their national alcohol policy.
What EU is doing
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In 2006, the European Commission presented the EU Alcohol Strategy COM(2006) 625. It establishes a strategy to support EU countries in reducing the health, economic and social problems related to harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption. The strategy sets priority themes, identifies the different levels of action and lists the measures taken by EU countries to encourage good practices. It also invites all other interested parties to take measures to reduce alcohol-related harm. Action by the European Commission has complemented national strategies in this area. In 2017, the Commission adopted a Report on Mandatory labelling of the list of ingredients and the nutrition declaration of alcoholic beverages. This Report is based on data collected by the Commission through Member States and stakeholders consultations and responds to the obligation set for the Commission by Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of Food Information to Consumers ("FIC" Regulation). This provision exempts alcoholic beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol from the mandatory list of ingredients and the nutrition declaration and states that the Commission shall produce a report addressing whether alcoholic beverages should in future be covered, in particular, by the requirement to provide the information on the energy value, and the reasons justifying possible exemptions, taking into account the need to ensure coherence with other relevant Union policies and considering in this context the need to propose a definition of 'alcopops'. On 12 March 2018 the alcoholic beverage industry submitted a self-regulatory proposal to the Commission (followed by a series of bilateral dialogues):
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In June 2019, at the SpiritsEUROPE Annual Congress in Paris, representatives of the spirits’ industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the labelling of spirits drinks in which they commit over the coming years, to provide the energy value on label and the list of ingredients off label. In addition to spiritsEUROPE, six companies signed individually as well as 4 national associations (Spain, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands). On 4 July 2019: Commissioners Andriukaitis and Hogan sent a letter to the spirits’ sector, welcoming the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding and encouraging industry to start implementing it as soon as possible for the benefit of consumers.
In September 2019, the Brewers of Europe and its members (37 initial signatories, including 25 national brewers’ associations) signed a Memorandum of Understanding and committed, through a Brewers’ Ambition, to labelling ingredients and energy values on all beer bottles and cans in the EU by 2022. On 27 September 2019: Commissioner Andriukaitis sent a letter to the beer sector, welcoming the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Brewers’ Ambition and encouraging the beer industry to become the gold standard when it comes to industry commitments to labelling. |
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On 20 May 2020, the European Commission published the Communication COM(2020) 381 A Farm to Fork Strategy, as the heart of the European Green Deal aiming to make food systems fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly. In this Communication, the EC announced the revision of EU Regulations on food labelling.
On 3 February 2021, the European Commission adopted the “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan”. The plan announces that the Commission will propose to introduce the mandatory indication of the list of ingredients and the nutrition declaration on labels of all alcoholic beverages. |
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Implementing Regulations of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011:
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/100 of 24 January 2022 concerning a draft Decree by the Kingdom of the Netherlands on toddler drinks and toddler milk notified in accordance with Article 45 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document C(2022) 312) (Only the Dutch text is authentic)
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/945 of 10 June 2021 concerning a draft order notified by Romania as regards information on the freshness of fish (notified under document C(2021) 4052) (Only the Romanian text is authentic)
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/334 of 23 February 2021 concerning a draft order notified by Romania as regards information on the surface treatment of fruit and vegetables with pesticides (notified under document C(2021) 1096) (Only the Romanian text is authentic)
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/802 of 17 May 2019 correcting the Greek language version of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775 laying down rules for the application of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, as regards the rules for indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/775 of 28 May 2018 laying down rules for the application of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, as regards the rules for indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 of 30 July 2014 on the requirements for the provision of information to consumers on the absence or reduced presence of gluten in food
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1337/2013 of 13 December 2013 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the indication of the country of origin or place of provenance for fresh, chilled and frozen meat of swine, sheep, goats and poultry
- COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) …/... laying down rules for the application of Article 26(3) of Regulation (EU) N° 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, as regards the rules for indicating the country of origin or place of provenance of the primary ingredient of a food where different to that given for that food
The ongoing EU regulation on Labelling of alcoholic beverages
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The European Commission could submit a revision of the Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 to the European Parliament and EU Council starting from autumn 2021. The revision should include labelling of the alcoholic beverages. In the meantime, on 24 June 2021, the European Commission published an inception impact assessment on the labelling of alcoholic beverages (list of ingredients and nutrition declaration) outlining the Commission's initial analysis of the problems, policy objectives and different solutions as well as the likely impacts. The public consultation on the Commission’s inception impact assessment is open from 24 June 2021 until 22 July 2021 and the feedback can be provided here. |
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Coordination at EU Level
The Committee on National Alcohol Policy and Action (CNAPA) plays a major role in, facilitating cooperation and coordination between EU countries, and contributing to further policy development.
The Committee is composed of national delegates appointed by their EU countries and meets twice per year in Luxembourg. Its main objectives are sharing best practices, and seeking convergence of national alcohol policies within the EU.
Monitoring on Alcohol
Trends and developments in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in EU are monitored by the European Information System on Alcohol and Health (EUSAH).
EUSAH is maintained through cooperation between the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO) within the framework of the EU Health Programme.
Issued regularly within the EU-WHO cooperation framework, the country profiles give an overview of the situation in individual EU countries.
EU Funds available
The EU finances studies, research projects and awards contracts through multi-annual programs funded from the EU budget.
Go to the home page of the European Health Union Chapter to see the updated Calls list, or request our consulting service with the Form at the bottom of this page.
The EU finances studies, research projects and awards contracts through multi-annual programs funded from the EU budget.
Go to the home page of the European Health Union Chapter to see the updated Calls list, or request our consulting service with the Form at the bottom of this page.
