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.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Dietary Guidelines
United States – Following up on a recent FIVS alert regarding recommendations that the U.S. government should lower its official dietary guidelines for men from no more than two drinks per day to no more than one drink per day:
- Five U.S. Senators and 28 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Democrats and Republicans, have criticised those recommendations, requesting information from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services on how the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reached its conclusion and noting the Committee cited only one study out of sixty studies as it reversed its guidance over the past thirty years.
- This author concludes that data suggesting moderate drinkers are slightly more prone to certain cancers may be skewed by other factors, just as studies suggesting moderate drinkers have better cardiovascular health may be inaccurate as well.
Drink Drive
Malaysia – The newly-passed Road Transport Bill 2020 will reportedly impose stiffer penalties for individuals who cause death due to recklessness or driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Those charged could reportedly face five-to-ten years imprisonment, as well as fines up to RM50,000 (about US$12,000). The possibility of increased funding for law enforcement agencies to acquire more equipment to test impaired drivers may also be under consideration, as well as having e-hailing companies display stickers on their vehicles to encourage those under the influence of alcohol to use their service instead of driving themselves.
South Africa – During a recent media briefing, South Africa’s Transport Minister referred to proposed legislation that would not allow individuals to drive or occupy the driver’s seat with any amount of alcohol in their system. He reportedly cited research conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation showing that drink driving accounts for 27.1% of fatal crashes in South Africa.
United Kingdom – The British government may be considering a proposal to install ignition interlock devices in the cars of drink driving offenders, noting that approximately 5,890 accidents during 2018 involved drivers exceeding the alcohol limit.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Labelling
Brazil – As reported by Agência Câmara de Notícias, Brazil’s parliament is reportedly reviewing legislation that would require warning labels on alcohol beverages, as well as in establishments that sell these products, regarding prenatal exposure to any type or quantity of alcohol at any time during pregnancy.
United Kingdom – The Portman Group has reportedly criticised a report from the Alcohol Health Alliance which concluded that a voluntary approach to labels on alcohol beverage products since 2016 had led to “poor and inconsistent practice.” The head of the Portman Group charged that the report was “utter nonsense” and “based on out-of-date information.”
Trade
European Union–United States – The European Union and United States announced a tariff reduction agreement regarding American lobster products and European crystal glassware, cigarette lighters, certain prepared meals, surface preparations, and propellant powders. The U.S. Trade Representative and EU Trade Commissioner indicated in a joint statement that the package marked “just the beginning of a process that will lead to additional agreements that create more free, fair, and reciprocal transatlantic trade.”
- The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States issued a press statement expressing its hope that the agreement will lead to talks on returning to the 1994 zero-for-zero tariff agreement on spirits products.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Pesticide Residues
France: This latest issue of Oenologues de France contains a number of interesting pieces, including one in English about pesticide residues and the detection of thresholds in wines. This paper appears to be consistent with the reasoning expressed in FIVS’s Regulatory Principle #7. See Regulatory Principles to Enhance Coherence and to Facilitate Trade in Wine Adopted by FIVS in 2013.
Studies
Beer Lovers, Beware! – A study in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association reportedly found that individuals who drink beer are more attractive to mosquitoes and have a higher chance of being bitten. Researchers concluded that mosquitoes were attracted to the ethanol content in sweat, higher body temperatures produced while drinking alcohol, and the strong aroma of beer.