France – Wine industry protests against planned restrictions on advertising and new taxes

(Journee-Vinicole) - According to industry organisation Vin & Société, the French government is planning a raft of new measures that would jeopardise the wine industry’s future. Stricter legislation on advertising and new taxes are among the changes currently being mulled.

France is already one of the most regulated countries in the world when it comes to drinks advertising. Since the early 1990s, the infamous Loi Evin has shackled attempts by the wine industry to reverse the downward trend in wine consumption. Frequently, anti-alcohol lobbies take industry members to court over advertising campaigns and more often than not, win their case. But since the law was voted, new forms of media have taken centre stage, particularly the internet. There has been somewhat of a legal void which the current government is seeking to end. It is also planning to stop any kind of positive comments about wine in the media, despite the fact that most publications and broadcast media are extremely wary about even mentioning wine or other alcoholic drinks for fear of falling foul of the law. Other plans include making the current health warning even more drastic, both for print advertisements and bottle labels. And finally, like other cash-strapped governments, the French President and Prime Minister are reported to be considering taxing wine rather than levying the current shipping tax for administrative tracking purposes.

Vin & Société has launched a new website – cequivavraimentsaoulerlesfrancais.fr – to rally public support for its protest movement. The organisation is calling on the French government to drop its plans and to create an interministerial committee to discuss long-term issues for an industry which is essential to the foreign trade balance. “For months now, we have felt increased pressure from moralisers seeking to create a nanny state. Wine is being equated with drugs and even one glass is therefore considered life-threatening,” said Vin & Société chairman, Joël Forgeau. “Wine consumption has dropped by 70 percent in 50 years and by 20 percent over the last decade. What image are we sending out to the 31 million French consumers who drink wine sensibly with friends or family? What message are we projecting to countries the world over that are envious of our wines as a symbol of our lifestyle?...