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.
SUSTAINABILITY
New sustainability trust mark launched – Drinks retailers have reportedly reacted positively to the launch of a new sustainability trust mark, launched by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA), to help sustainably produced wines and other alcohol beverages stand out with clear certification.
REPORTS
Report issued on Nordic market – The Finnish alcohol monopoly, Alko, has released its annual report, Information on the Nordic Alcohol Market 2020, which includes a summary of the development of the state retail alcohol beverage monopolies in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Faroe Islands, including data on pricing, personnel, number of brands, packaging, social control, sales figures and customer satisfaction. The report also includes an update on alcohol policy related matters.
UK publication on wine trade – Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Report on “Reducing Friction in International Trade (RFIT)” – This collaborative work by the UK Revenue and Customs, the Financial Standards Agency, and The Wine and Spirit Trade Association was designed to address the need for practical testing and the application of distributed ledger technologies.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Trade groups urge end to EU-US tariff war – Eighteen trade associations have reportedly written to the United States Trade Representative and the European Commission for Trade to call for an immediate elimination of the retaliatory tariffs that the European Union and United States have imposed on wine, spirits, and beer. Following reports that the World Trade Organisation authorized the European Union to impose $4 billion in tariffs on U.S. imports in the Boeing dispute, trade groups fear the EU may impose tariffs on American wine, rum, brandy, and vodka. Since the start of the EU-US dispute, American whiskey exports to the EU have fallen by 41 percent; U.S. imports of Scotch have fallen by nearly 35 percent; and all other categories are down.
DRINK DRIVE
Hungary – Despite the Minister of Agriculture’s recent call for a national conversation about changing Hungary’s zero tolerance driving laws, the government reportedly rejected the idea. Since zero tolerance came into effect in Hungary, accidents caused by people driving under the influence reportedly fell by over 30 percent, fatalities declined by nearly one-half, and serious injuries fell by nearly one-third.
Kenya – The National Police Service is reportedly conducting a nationwide operation to curb road accidents and enhance road safety, because of rising cases of road accidents throughout Kenya. Police began conducting random drink driving tests in major towns on 09 October 2020.
Poland – Police reportedly arrested one-third more intoxicated drivers in Poland each day during July and August 2020 than they did on the other days of 2020. The number of individuals arrested for drink driving also reportedly rose by 2.5 percent during the summer of 2020 compared with arrests during the summer of 2019.
ILLICIT ALCOHOL
Turkey – At least eight people reportedly died and eighteen were hospitalized after consuming illicit alcohol in the central province of Kırıkkale and the western province of Izmir, involving the worst cases of alcohol poisoning in Turkey since March 2020. Although police have increased efforts to prevent illicit alcohol sales, illicit commerce reportedly remains a lucrative sector in Turkey due to steep taxes on alcohol beverages.