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.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- OIV Spring Meetings – New Dates: Following the United Nations and France’s recommendations towards minimizing the virus spread, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) rescheduled its Spring Meetings from 24 March to 3 April to 3 to 11 June, and 15 to 24 July 2020 (Paris, France).
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Health Studies
- Alcohol Consumption Allegedly Leads to Narcotics Use: The International Narcotics Control Board’s (INCB) annual report cites studies showing that teens aged 16 to 19 who consume alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are more inclined to use opiates and cocaine as adults. The INCB’s president reportedly said the non-medical use of cannabis plays the most prominent role among both adolescents and adults. The INCB noted the particular challenge in Afghanistan, whose opiate economy exceeds the value of that country’s legal exports. The full INCB annual report, whose theme for 2019 focuses on improving prevention and treatment services for young people, can be downloaded here.
- Holland – Drinking Linked to Longevity: Researchers from Maastricht University in Holland, who spent two decades studying the drinking habits of approximately 5,500 people, reportedly found significantly positive associations between alcohol and longevity in men and women. Men who drank several ounces of whiskey or two pints of beer daily were two-thirds more likely to live to 90 than abstainers, and women increased their chances by one-third.
- Korea – Moderate Drinking Tied to Lower Levels of Alzheimer’s Brain Protein: According to a recently released study, moderate alcohol consumption is reportedly associated with reduced levels of beta amyloid, the protein that forms the brain plaques of Alzheimer’s disease.
- Marketing
- Kenya – Opposing Advertising Curbs: Alcohol drinks producers and media interests are reportedly opposing an Alcoholic Drinks Control (Amendment) Bill that would regulate the advertising hours for alcohol beverages.
- Nigeria – Banning Ads: The Presidential Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Drug Abuse recently recommended that advertisements on alcohol and other recreational drugs be banned to discourage use of these products.
- Scotland – Limitations on Alcohol Advertising and Sponsorships: Some groups are calling for alcohol sponsorships to be banned in Scottish sporting events. They base this argument on an academic study that found drink advertising featured at particularly popular times during the programming. Sports minister Joe FitzPatrick said he would begin a consultation on alcohol sponsorship restrictions. At the same time, Scottish women’s football has taken the position of rejecting alcohol or gambling sponsors and others are suggesting that advertising at sporting events undermines a message of drinking in moderation.
- Minimum Unit Pricing
- Ireland – Adopting MUP throughout Ireland: The Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris wrote to his northern counterpart Robin Swann proposing the adoption of minimum unit pricing (MUP) on alcohol on both sides of the Border. Pressure is reportedly increasing to introduce a base price throughout the island of Ireland below which alcohol cannot be sold.
- Scotland – The number of alcohol-related emergency hospital admissions has reportedly fallen. Figures from the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre show that alcohol-related emergency hospital admissions have dropped precipitously from 2007/08 to 2018/19. In addition, the number of emergency admissions to psychiatric units declined by more than a third during the same period. This article suggests that this drop can in part be attributed to the introduction of MUP in Scotland.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Germany – No Ice Wine this Year: There will reportedly be no German ice wine produced in the 2019 vintage as temperatures across Germany’s wine-producing regions have been too warm this winter. None of the country’s 13 wine-growing regions reached the requisite figure of -7 degrees C for the production of the famous dessert wine, which is made from grapes that have frozen while still on the vine.
- Selecting Your Drink: This article suggests choosing your alcohol beverage of choice based on its relative environmental impact (whether it requires refrigeration, transportation, etc.) and/or its packaging (cans, boxes, or glass).