European Commission Proposes Stricter Alcohol Taxation and Health Warnings

The European Commission has released a new working document under the Beca plan (Beating Cancer), which proposes stricter measures on alcohol taxation and health warnings. This follows a similar proposal three years ago that faced opposition in the European Parliament. The Commission claims that over 90% of the plan's actions have been initiated, with many already completed. Currently, the directive on alcohol tax rates sets a minimum excise duty of 0 euros for wine and other fermented beverages. One proposal is to change this principle.

The Italian Wine Union (Uiv) notes that the new document includes even more stringent aspects than those previously opposed politically. The Commission is working on introducing stricter measures regarding taxation, including for wine, limiting cross-border sales, and informing consumers through health warnings on alcoholic beverage labels. It also aims to regulate alcohol advertising.

Paolo Castelletti, Uiv's secretary-general, expressed disappointment, stating that the European Commission's focus remains unchanged. He hoped the new Commission would focus on measures to enhance business competitiveness rather than increasing taxes and creating market distortions. Castelletti pointed out inconsistencies within the EU, noting that health warnings were reintroduced in the document despite the Health Commissioner, Varhelyi, stating they were not a priority.

Castelletti urged member states and particularly Italian MEPs to block the document in the EU Council and Parliament, criticizing the lack of public consultation with stakeholders. He warned that this could be a shocking start to the new legislative term for a sector worth over 100 billion euros and millions of jobs in Europe.