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.
Bangladesh: Home Ministry sets new rules for alcohol sales and consumption – The Ministry of Home Affairs in Bangladesh has reportedly set stricter rules for “all types of alcohol-related permission” by issuing Alcohol Control Rules 2022. Passes will be required for carrying and transporting alcohol, and licenses will be required for importing, exporting, producing, processing, supplying, marketing, selling, purchasing, and storing alcohol. No more than three units of alcohol may be sold at one time and no more than seven units may be sold in one month to the permitted holders, except in special cases. Bars and liquor stores must remain closed on Fridays, as well as on religious and other government-declared holidays. Hotels with five stars or more may operate seven bars and may import up to 40% of foreign alcohol brands.
European Union: Parliament votes to refocus BECA report on fighting harmful use; no longer suggests “no safe level” of alcohol consumption – Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) welcomed efforts of those members of the European Parliament who amended the report of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA). While earlier language suggested there is “no safe level” of consumption, the final report made a clear distinction between moderate, responsible consumption and harmful drinking. The final report recommends that member states should introduce mandatory ingredient and nutritional information labeling, but a requirement for health warning labeling was replaced with a message to “drink with moderation and responsibility.” Although supportive of the European Commission initiative “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan” and European Parliament’s report “Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer,” the CEEV reiterated the importance for all policies to be science- and evidence-based. The European Parliament voted on 16 February 2022 to accept the report as amended, which will become a parliamentary resolution without executive force.
South Africa: Illicit alcohol market has doubled in less than ten years – The South African Liquor Brand owners Association (Salba) has reportedly urged the South African government to address the illicit alcohol trade, which currently represents 22% of the South African alcohol market, by reducing excise taxes on alcohol beverages. Due to excise tax increases, prices for legal alcohol are now, on average, 43% higher than those of illicit alcohol. Excise tax rates for alcohol beverages have quadrupled since 2000, but total alcohol consumption has remained virtually unchanged.
Denmark: New technique for producing non-alcohol beer discovered – Researchers from the University of Copenhagen reportedly have discovered a method for decreasing the quantity of hops used to produce non-alcohol beer by instilling the final product with molecules called monoterpenoids, which produce the smell that beer drinkers love. If true, monoterpenoids could eliminate the need for hops, which would lower production costs dramatically. The researchers suggest the new process could be implemented before the end of 2022.
India: Food safety authority will require calorie labels for beer – The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) reportedly intends to issue new regulations within three months, requiring calorie labels for beer. At present, beer container labels only indicate alcohol content by weight. In 2019, the FSSAI required all alcohol beverage bottles to carry cautionary messages such as “Drinking is injurious to health” and “Don’t drink and drive.”
United Kingdom: The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA) has reportedly concluded that consumers are “being kept in the dark” about the sugar content and calories of wine, saying that individuals can reach the daily recommended limit for sugar by drinking two glasses of wine. The AHA pressed the government to require that calories and sugar content be displayed on wine labels to help reduce alcohol harm.
United States: Sonoma County Winegrowers to electrify fleet operations – Sonoma County Winegrowers and Ford Pro are collaborating in a pilot program that will help local grape growers electrify their fleets and better understand how they can lower their greenhouse gas emissions through fleet management and telematics. This innovative living lab includes three pilot farmers who will receive electric vehicles, charging stations, and telematics across their gas-powered and electric vehicles. The goal is to lower operating costs, vehicle downtime, and fuel consumption, while supporting climate adaptation. Some of the farm vehicles log as many as 50,000 miles per year, and fuel costs average about $5,000 per month at one of the farms. The collaboration with Ford Pro is the next step in Sonoma County Winegrowers’ commitment to sustainability.
European Union: COVID restriction easing in Austria, France, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland – European governments are reportedly lifting or indicating their intention to roll back COVID-19 restrictions. Although masks will be required in some areas, Austria will allow nightclubs to reopen and lift nearly all other restrictions, including capacity restrictions at public events, by 05 March 2022. Although masks will be required on public transportation and in health facilities, vaccination passports will no longer be required for restaurants and theaters in Switzerland; nor will they be required in Slovakia for entering stores, shopping malls, bars, and restaurants. Germany intends to phase out its restrictions in three stages by 20 March 2022 – but masking and social distancing requirements may stay in place for indoor public spaces and public transportation and the government warned the public that new variants could arrive “at the latest by the fall.” Unvaccinated individuals may now enter nonessential stores if they have proof of a negative test result; on 04 March 2022, they may enter restaurants, hotels, and nightclubs as well.
Japan: Quasi-state of emergency COVID restrictions to continue in 31 of 47 prefectures – Although Japan has reportedly lifted quasi-emergency restrictions in five prefectures, those restrictions have been extended or will stay in place until 06 March 2022 in 31 of Japan’s 47 prefectures (including Tokyo), allowing their governors to request that restaurants and bars close early and stop serving alcohol. The measures have been in place since January 2022 in response to surges in hospitalisations caused by the Omicron variant.
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.