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
China: Wineries exporting to China must register facilities – All wineries exporting to China must reportedly register their facilities by 01 January 2022, but foreign embassies in Beijing from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States are asking China to delay implementation until 01 July 2023. No guidance in English at the registration website is available yet.
Global: Extremely low wine volumes expected after sharp drop in Europe – Global wine production is expected to fall to one of its lowest levels on record after harsh weather battered vineyards in Italy, France, and Spain, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). At the same time, demand is expected to recover to levels seen before the coronavirus pandemic. Based on information collected from 28 countries, representing 85% of the world production in 2020, the OIV placed world production for 2021 at between 247.1 and 253.5 million hectoliters (mhl), marking the third consecutive year of below-average output and approaching the 2017 level of 248 mhl, the smallest in six decades. One hectolitre is the equivalent of 133 standard bottles.
Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur imposes alcohol restrictions; prohibits selling spirits in grocery stores; bars and restaurants may serve alcohol only until midnight – The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has reportedly imposed a ban on the sale of liquor at grocery stores, convenience stores, and Chinese medical shops. Beer may now only be purchased at those premises from 7 am until 9 pm daily. Pubs, bars, lounges, and restaurants with licences to sell alcohol will only be allowed to serve liquor between 10 am and midnight. Premises selling alcohol must not be within 100m of police stations, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, or residential houses. Only non-Muslims will be allowed to be applicants and licence holders, and the owners of business premises must be non-Muslims. Local governments have reportedly indicated they may adopt similar policies.
- Malaysia: Minister says local authorities may ban alcohol sales to Muslims – Malaysia’s Religious Affairs Minister has reportedly said local authorities have the power to ban the sale of alcohol beverages to Muslims in their respective areas, hoping to kickstart a total ban on the sale of alcohol to Muslims.
Drinking age
Uganda: Ministry beginning to implement new increased drinking age from 18 to 21 years – A policy to control the consumption and sale of alcohol – including increasing the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 – was passed by Uganda’s Cabinet in November 2019, but was reportedly never implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Health is now beginning to target certain communities to inform them about the new policy. Data from the Health Ministry reportedly shows that the use of alcohol starts as early as 14 years in some parts of the country, especially in areas where sugarcane is produced.
Increased mortality risk among abstainers may have other explanations – A new study published in PLOS Medicine by Ulrich John of University Medicine Greifswald, Germany, found most alcohol abstainers, who seem to die earlier than low to moderate drinkers, had factors in their history predicting early death. The researchers used data on a random sample of 4,028 German adults who had participated in a standardised interview conducted between 1996 and 1997, when participants were 18 to 64 years old. Among the study participants, 447 (11.10%) had not drunk any alcohol in the 12 months prior to the baseline interview. Of these abstainers, 405 (90.60%) were former alcohol consumers and 322 (72.04%) had one or more other risk factors for higher mortality rates, including a former alcohol-use disorder or risky alcohol consumption (35.40%), daily smoking (50.00%), or fair to poor self-rated health (10.51%).
Illicit alcohol
Chile: Senate passes bill with heavy fines for unrecorded or adulterated wine – Chile’s Senate Chamber has reportedly passed legislation that would drastically increase fines for those who adulterate or falsify wine production. The legislation was initiated by senators who represent the El Maule region, a wine-growing area. Anyone granting certificates of potability with respect to alcohol products that are toxic or harmful to health will be sanctioned with fines, confiscation of products, and temporary or permanent closure of the establishment where the products were produced.
India: Bihar’s total ban on alcohol stimulates illegal production; 24 dead over 2 days – A total ban on alcohol consumption and sale in the Indian state of Bihar has apparently stimulated the illegal production of spirits, causing approximately 70 people to die and many others to lose their sight after consuming illicit alcohol. At least 24 people died after drinking illicit alcohol over two days during the ongoing festive season.
Global: Glass is the hidden gem in a carbon-neutral future – If manufacturing glass can be carbon-free and glass can be recycled infinitely without losing any of its properties, this author asks why most countries — with the exception of those in Europe — bury most of their glass in landfills. Glass manufacturing produces at least 86 million tons of carbon dioxide globally every year. But if glass recycling were made mandatory, existing technologies could turn glass manufacturing into a mostly carbon-free process.
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.