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
Drinking Guidelines
U.S. guidelines take aim at moderate drinking – Following up on an alert item from last week, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and of Health and Human Services received public comments through 13 August 2020 on proposed new dietary guidelines which recommend cutting consumption for men from two drinks per day to one drink. These submissions and related items may be of interest:
- Spirits: Dr. Sam Zakhari, science advisor to the Distilled Spirits Council and a former division director at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, testified in opposition to changing the definition of moderate drinking, noting that the Committee’s review of 60 studies included only one study examining the differences amongst men consuming one drink versus two per day.
- Wine: Wine Institute submitted written comments, urging the preservation of existing standards and noting that the review did not follow established methods, establish a preponderance of new evidence to support a change in guidance, or evaluate alcohol beverages within the context of dietary patterns.
- Beer: The Beer Institute and the Brewers Association filed written comments highlighting instances where the Committee acted outside the parameters set forth by the USDA for scientific review, including placing unwarranted reliance on out-of-scope studies and failing to meet standards for transparency.
- Importers: The National Association of Beverage Importers contended in its submission that consumer confusion would result where the science did not justify deviating from the clear, consistent, and core message of over 30 years that moderate consumption of alcohol beverages has been one drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men.
- General: This author, who advocates for the creation of a group focusing on existing science to counter the anti-alcohol movement, asks how an unbiased group could conclude that the single study cited in the report should outweigh decades of prior work.
Drink Drive
Fewer deaths from road accidents in Uruguay – The Municipality of Montevideo reported a decrease of 29% in the number of deaths from road accidents during 2019 compared with death rates from 2015 – 2019. The mayor credited the decrease to road safety policies, including a lower blood alcohol content rule.
Research
Alcohol promotion during UK sporting events – Because promotion of alcohol beverages during sporting events is largely unregulated in the UK, researchers at the University of Nottingham reportedly analysed broadcast footage of 21 Formula 1 Championship races aired during 2018. The 21 races delivered impressions regarding alcohol beverages to approximately 154 million children under the age of 16 in the UK, as well as impressions of alcohol branding to about 141 million children. The study noted that branding was also shown in race footage from countries where alcohol promotion is prohibited.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Trade
U.S. maintaining Airbus tariffs – The U.S. government intends to maintain 15% tariffs on Airbus aircraft and 25% tariffs on other European goods, despite Airbus’s announcement in July regarding increased loan repayments to France and Spain in a bid to end the 16-year dispute over aircraft subsidies. The United States apparently did not heed calls from EU officials and U.S. lawmakers to drop tariffs on EU food, wine, and spirits, but did not add tariffs to vodka, gin, and beer as it had earlier threatened. The United States Trade Representative indicated that it would initiate a new process to try to reach a long-term solution and that it would modify its list of $7.5 billion of affected European products to remove certain goods from Greece and Britain and add an equivalent amount from Germany and France.
- The French industry on lifting tariffs – The French wine industry expressed regret over the U.S. decision to maintain sanctions against French wines, noting that the sanctions have led to a 35% drop in French exports of still wines to the United States.
- UK trade association on lifting tariffs – The Scotch Whisky Association has mounted a campaign to pressure the UK government to seek a resolution of 25% tariffs on whisky exports to the United States, rather than rely on the European Union to resolve the disputes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Portuguese FIVS member, the Wines of Alentejo, recently announced a third party certification scheme in its sustainability programme commencing on 07 August 2020. The concepts in this programme are consistent with the FIVS Global Wine Producers Environmental Sustainability Principles which set forth general tenets that promote the idea that the continued health of the wine sector rests entirely on natural resources. Those interested should contact João L. Barroso for more information.