Alcohol

#spiritsEUROPE launches new responsible drinking campaign

Published

6 years ago

May 6, 2020

spiritsEUROPE launches a new campaign to promote responsible drinking, given the concern over excessive alcohol consumption during the global lockdown.

Reports of increases in alcohol sales since the beginning of confinement measures have caused alarm. While sales of alcohol in shops and supermarkets have increased, this is greatly offset by the closure of the hospitality sector and the effective collapse of the tourism and travel retail sectors. These changes following the lockdown have in fact resulted in substantial declines in the sales of spirits in Europe – currently estimated at around a 20% to 30% drop.

Notwithstanding these findings, spiritsEUROPE is determined to not be complacent: “Reports that some are drinking more means we must remain proactive in our promotion of responsible drinking. It’s important that we all do everything we can to protect our health at the moment and that includes ensuring that we drink responsibly and within the drinking guidelines,” said spiritsEUROPE Director General Ulrich Adam.

He added: “Today we’re launching a new strand of our efforts to encourage responsible drinking. While we are waiting for our favourite pubs, clubs and restaurants to re-open, we want to remind people that if they choose to enjoy a gin and tonic or their favourite cocktail at home, it’s important to keep within the responsible drinking guidelines.”

In the first part of the campaign, spiritsEUROPE is launching an interactive quiz which will test people’s “alcohol-awareness” and point them towards resources to brush up on their knowledge.

The campaign will be accompanied by a Europe-wide digital investment to promote the quiz and its messages. Translations of the quiz will also be provided free-of-charge to the national associations in spiritsEUROPE to increase the impact of the campaign.

“We understand people’s concern about drinking to excess at home during this period and that’s why we’re renewing our efforts to promote responsible drinking at the moment,” said Ulrich Adam.

spiritsEUROPE’s new campaign has been welcomed by MEPs Juan Ignació Zoido (EPP, Spain) and Irène Tolleret (Renew Europe, France), co-chairs of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Wines, Spirits and Quality Foodstuffs: “spiritsEUROPE, along with other sector associations, has long encouraged the responsible consumption of alcohol, and as chairs of the Intergroup on Wines, Spirits and Quality Foodstuffs at the European Parliament, we believe it is important to see this work intensify during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud to see common efforts and initiatives to promote responsible consumption of alcohol and reduce harmful drinking."

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