European Commission Advances Alcohol Tax Review in Cancer Prevention Push

The European Commission is moving forward with plans to review alcohol taxation as part of its broader cancer prevention strategy. A working document from the Commission, dated February 4, 2025, outlines ongoing efforts to revise the directive on minimum excise duty rates for alcoholic beverages. This initiative is part of the EU Plan to Combat Cancer, which began in 2021 and aims to address health risks linked to alcohol consumption. In 2022, alcohol-related causes accounted for more than 1.3 million deaths across the European Union.

Currently, the EU sets a minimum excise tax rate of zero for wine and other fermented beverages, while beer, intermediate products, and ethyl alcohol are subject to positive tax rates. The Commission’s document notes that the alcoholic beverage market is evolving and calls for a comprehensive evaluation of current tax rules. This assessment will inform discussions with member states about possible changes to alcohol taxation.

The review also includes consideration of new regulations on consumer information and alcohol advertising. One proposal would require health warnings on alcoholic beverage labels, similar to those already mandated for tobacco products. The Commission has reiterated this idea in its recent working paper.

The process began with an external study in 2020 and continued with public consultations in 2021, allowing national authorities and stakeholders to provide feedback on the evaluation roadmap. The Commission says that any future analysis will seek to balance several priorities: maintaining the free movement of goods within the EU, ensuring tax revenue for member states, protecting public health, and preventing fraud.

Despite these efforts, the proposed revisions have met resistance from some industry groups. The Unione Italiana Vini has urged member states and Italian Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to reject the document, arguing that it was drafted without sufficient consultation with relevant stakeholders. The political group League has also criticized the proposals, questioning their motives and describing them as a “dangerous crusade” masked by good intentions.

Formal legislative processes have not yet started. Once the European Commission develops formal proposals, they will be reviewed by parliamentary committees and member states before any changes can take effect.

Some policymakers support advancing the cancer strategy through these measures. Alessandra Moretti, a Democratic Party MEP and member of the new Public Health Committee, emphasized the importance of implementing the plan to fight cancer. Christophe Hansen, Commissioner for Agriculture, has acknowledged the need for action and indicated that a package of specific measures targeting the wine sector could be proposed as early as March.

In Italy alone, the National Health Service spends about 16 billion euros each year on cancer-related expenses—14% of its total healthcare budget. Supporters of higher alcohol taxes argue that increased revenue could help cover social and health costs associated with alcohol-related diseases.

The timeline for presenting a formal revision proposal remains unclear. According to the Commission’s latest update, more than 90% of actions under the cancer strategy are either completed or underway. The next steps will depend on further evaluations and negotiations among EU member states.