Over the summer, an EC-commissioned report into the social, health and economic impact of the alcohol industry across Europe was published. One of the conclusions called for a ban on sponsorship by alcohol companies and brands across Europe.
But the European Commission has now made a decision on which elements of the report were to be adopted and no European wide ban on alcohol sponsorship is proposed.
Commenting on the statement from the EC, ESA Chairman, Nigel Currie said. “ESA was always fully in support of the over-riding intention behind the report, namely addressing alcohol misuse and other problems associated with alcohol. However it looked for a while as though sponsorship was going to be singled out unfairly as a particular scapegoat. We are pleased that common sense has prevailed and we will continue to engage actively with the EC and to support the drinks industry in developing and operating sensible codes of practice in this area.”
