Six European Union member states have called on Brussels to implement comprehensive alcohol restrictions in EU policy as part of the bloc’s upcoming cardiovascular health strategy, according to internal documents.

Austria, Belgium, France, Latvia, Slovenia and Spain raised concerns about alcohol consumption during a recent European Commission roundtable on cardiovascular disease prevention. The countries advocated for various EU alcohol controls including taxation measures and advertising limitations.

France Leads Call for EU-Wide Action

France outlined key challenges that require coordinated alcohol restrictions in EU legislation, specifically highlighting the need for “action on tobacco and alcohol taxation” at the European level. The French delegation emphasises that effective public health measures require unified approaches across member states rather than fragmented national policies.

Latvia supported comprehensive EU alcohol controls and called for higher excise taxes and advertising restrictions. These measures would standardise approaches across the EU and prevent consumers from accessing cheaper alcohol products in neighbouring countries with lower taxation rates.

Systematic Approaches to Public Health

Austria emphasised the importance of systematic measures that target commercial environments enabling easy access to alcohol, tobacco, and highly processed foods. This approach recognises that alcohol restrictions in EU policy must address the broader commercial determinants of health rather than focus solely on individual behaviour.

Slovenia expressed support for stronger EU alcohol controls alongside tobacco and food policies, whilst Spain highlighted the need for progress in regulating “social and commercial determinants of health” related to alcohol consumption at the European level.

Belgium referenced existing measures within the European Beating Cancer Plan and suggested that alcohol restrictions in EU frameworks should build upon established policies, including potential revisions to tobacco directives and alcohol-related measures.

Current Regulatory Landscape

Currently, EU alcohol controls require only mandatory labelling that shows alcohol strength by volume. Previous attempts to introduce comprehensive alcohol restrictions in EU legislation, including nutrition labelling and health warnings, failed to gain sufficient support from member states.

The European Commission’s Farm to Fork Strategy proposed enhanced alcohol labelling requirements but faced strong opposition from countries with significant wine and beer industries. This resistance highlights the ongoing tension between public health objectives and economic interests within the EU.

Upcoming Policy Development

The Commission currently collects evidence from stakeholders for its cardiovascular health plan, which it expects to complete by the end of this year. The six-country push for alcohol restrictions in EU policy suggests growing momentum for coordinated EU alcohol controls as part of broader health protection measures.

The positions outlined during the July meeting of the public health expert group on non-communicable diseases prevention indicate that support for EU alcohol controls extends across different regions and political traditions within the bloc.

Industry representatives and public health advocates will provide input as the Commission develops its cardiovascular health strategy. The final plan will determine whether calls for strengthened alcohol restrictions in EU policy translate into concrete legislative proposals.

The convergence of six member states around enhanced EU alcohol controls suggests that previous opposition to such measures may weaken, particularly as evidence continues to mount regarding alcohol’s contribution to cardiovascular disease and other health conditions.

Source: Politic