The European Health Alliance on Alcohol (EHAA) has published a follow-up statement welcoming the outcome of the European Parliament’s vote on the EU Wine Package in the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) on 5 November.
In its statement, EHAA highlights the Committee’s decision to reaffirm the use of the scientifically accurate and legally coherent term “reduced-alcohol” for wine products. Members of the European Parliament rejected attempts to introduce potentially misleading descriptors such as “low” or “light” for wines containing up to 6% alcohol by volume.
EHAA stresses that this decision represents an important victory for public health, consumer protection and evidence-based policymaking. Health experts and consumer organisations have long warned that terms such as “low-alcohol” are inappropriate for products that still contain substantial levels of alcohol and may mislead consumers about health risks. By contrast, “reduced-alcohol” provides a factual description of a lowered alcohol content without implying reduced harm.
The statement also underlines the relevance of the AGRI Committee’s vote for the EU’s wider disease-prevention agenda, including Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan and the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan.
EHAA calls on the full European Parliament to uphold this position during the next phase of legislative negotiations and urges policymakers to maintain clear, accurate and consistent alcohol terminology across EU policies.