French MPs vote to relax tight alcohol ad laws
French MPs have gone against the wishes of the government by voting to loosen France's tough laws on alcohol advertising after protests from the wine industry.
The French wine industry will be raising a glass to MPs on Thursday after they voted in favour of relaxing France's stringent laws around the advertising of alcohol.
Members of parliament backed an amendment to a law that essentially allows for a difference to be made between "information" and "advertising" surrounding alcohol.
THe laws were judged as too vague and have left those in the media who talk about wine or alcohol on TV in danger of being prosecuted for illegal advertising.
The vote passed in the main thanks to the pro-wine group of MPs from all parties.
France’s tight controls over advertising of alcohol were brought in back in 1991 as part of a bid to cut a worrying rise in alcohol consumption - especially among young people.
The Loi Evin, as it is known, bans TV advertising of any drink with an alcohol content of more than 1.2 percent. It also forbids French broadcasters from showing alcohol brands on players’ kits or stadium hoardings.
But those in the alcohol industry, especially the wine trade, have long fought against the law which they say is a major obstacle to their chances of success.
In the latest bid to loosen the controls, French senator Gérard César, himself a former winemaker, tabled an amendment to a government law currently passing through parliament, that would see the restrictions lifted.
César also won support from others in the wine trade like author Jacques Dupont, who wrote the book “Invignez-vous”.
Dupont told Le Figaro newspaper that educating people about drinking wine is the best way to fight against alcoholism.
“We live in France with this paradox: we are the country of wine, but we have the most restrictive legislation on alcohol in Europe,” said Dupont
“We are very happy to sell wine abroad, but at the same time, the message sent by the Ministry of Health is: be careful, the wine is highly poisonous!”
The author complained that it was impossible to talk positively about wine on television in France because it would be judged as “encouraging alcoholism”.
But on the other side of the fence are health associations and the French Minister for Health, Marisol Touraine, who has appealed for the law not to be changed.
“I appeal to each and everyone to take responsibility,” said Touraine. “Do not change the law.”
Claude Evin, the man behind the 1991 law, who is now head of the Ile-de-France health association said the change would be a slippery slope and effectively lead to “any kind of advertising” being allowed.
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The French wine industry will be raising a glass to MPs on Thursday after they voted in favour of relaxing France's stringent laws around the advertising of alcohol.
Members of parliament backed an amendment to a law that essentially allows for a difference to be made between "information" and "advertising" surrounding alcohol.
THe laws were judged as too vague and have left those in the media who talk about wine or alcohol on TV in danger of being prosecuted for illegal advertising.
The vote passed in the main thanks to the pro-wine group of MPs from all parties.
France’s tight controls over advertising of alcohol were brought in back in 1991 as part of a bid to cut a worrying rise in alcohol consumption - especially among young people.
The Loi Evin, as it is known, bans TV advertising of any drink with an alcohol content of more than 1.2 percent. It also forbids French broadcasters from showing alcohol brands on players’ kits or stadium hoardings.
But those in the alcohol industry, especially the wine trade, have long fought against the law which they say is a major obstacle to their chances of success.
In the latest bid to loosen the controls, French senator Gérard César, himself a former winemaker, tabled an amendment to a government law currently passing through parliament, that would see the restrictions lifted.
César also won support from others in the wine trade like author Jacques Dupont, who wrote the book “Invignez-vous”.
Dupont told Le Figaro newspaper that educating people about drinking wine is the best way to fight against alcoholism.
“We live in France with this paradox: we are the country of wine, but we have the most restrictive legislation on alcohol in Europe,” said Dupont
“We are very happy to sell wine abroad, but at the same time, the message sent by the Ministry of Health is: be careful, the wine is highly poisonous!”
The author complained that it was impossible to talk positively about wine on television in France because it would be judged as “encouraging alcoholism”.
But on the other side of the fence are health associations and the French Minister for Health, Marisol Touraine, who has appealed for the law not to be changed.
“I appeal to each and everyone to take responsibility,” said Touraine. “Do not change the law.”
Claude Evin, the man behind the 1991 law, who is now head of the Ile-de-France health association said the change would be a slippery slope and effectively lead to “any kind of advertising” being allowed.
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