Six EU countries push for tougher alcohol rules in upcoming health plan

Six European Union countries are urging Brussels to adopt measures aimed at reducing alcohol consumption, including restrictions on advertising and higher taxes, as part of the European Commission’s upcoming cardiovascular health plan.

Austria, Belgium, France, Latvia, Slovenia, and Spain raised concerns about alcohol during a recent roundtable organised by the Commission on cardiovascular disease, according to an internal document obtained by POLITICO.

France highlighted key challenges that it believes are best addressed at the EU level, emphasising the need for “action on tobacco and alcohol taxation.” Latvia similarly called for EU measures, including increased excise taxes and advertising restrictions on alcohol. Austria stressed the importance of systemic, determinants-based measures targeting commercial environments that facilitate easy access to tobacco, alcohol, and highly processed foods.

Slovenia expressed support for “stronger EU action on tobacco, food, and alcohol policies,” while Spanish representatives called for progress at the European level in regulating the “social and commercial determinants of health related to food, alcohol, and tobacco.”

Belgium underlined the need to build on existing measures within the European Beating Cancer Plan, including revisions to the Tobacco Products Directive and alcohol-related initiatives.

Currently, EU law only requires alcohol producers to include labels indicating alcohol strength by volume. During the previous Commission mandate, additional proposals for mandatory nutrition labelling and health warnings on alcohol were introduced under the Farm to Fork Strategy.

However, these measures faced opposition from capitals, particularly countries with significant wine and beer industries, and did not advance.

The document obtained by POLITICO, which is undated, reflects positions discussed during a July meeting of a public health expert group focused on the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

The European Commission is now collecting evidence from stakeholders as it prepares the cardiovascular health plan, which is scheduled for release by the end of the year.

By Tamilla Hasanova