The European Spirits Organisation

Charter (2005-2010) and Roadmap (2010-2015)

The CEPS Charter

Reducing alcohol related harm is one of the EU spirits industry's key objectives which it seeks to implement via a host of targeted initiatives. To demonstrate its commitment to the fight against alcohol misuse, the European Spirits Organisation - CEPS adopted its Charter on Responsible Alcohol Consumption in November 2005. It lists seven commitments that EU spirits producers agreed to implement by 2010:,

• Advertising to include responsible drinking messages: 75% of members, advertising (print  including billboards, TV/cinema and website) will carry responsible drinking messages;
• Introduce codes of conduct on marketing of spirit drinks: Members fully adhere to and abide by a universal standard on commercial communications;
• Responsible product development: New products on the market will undergo even more intense scrutiny to ensure marketing is carried out responsibly;
• Fight underage drinking: Members will work closely with national authorities in ensuring that minimum purchasing age legislation is enforced;
• Fight drinking and driving: Members will continue to work with national authorities in ensuring the dangers of drinking and driving are widely communicated;
• Inform about responsible drinking: The industry will work with other stakeholders to define clearly what is meant by sensible drinking levels and then communicate the information widely;
• Publish progress reports: The European Spirits Organisation - CEPS will annually review and report publicly on the progress of implementation of this Charter.

Summary of results in implementing the commitments in 23 CEPS member countries: (for more information see the fifth progress report)

• Responsible Drinking Messages: 72% overall compliance of Responsible Drinking Messages by 2009(Finland, Latvia, Poland and Sweden are excluded from reporting on this commitment). For the remaining 18 CEPS member countries, 12 reached the 75% target before the deadline.
• Codes of conduct: Advertising is covered by self-regulation rules in all but 2 CEPS member countries. Of the countries with a code,18 are fully aligned with EFRD Common Standards.
• Responsible product development: 19 CEPS member countries have self-regulation rules to cover naming, labelling and packaging. Fight underage drinking: All but 6 CEPS member countries have reported activities in this area.
• Fight drinking and driving: All but 5 CEPS member countries have reported activities in this area.
• Inform about responsible drinking: All but 1 CEPS member country has reported activities in this area.
• Progress reports: Yearly progress reports were published (see below).

Next steps: CEPS Roadmap 2015

Building on the experience of the 2005 Charter commitments CEPS members adopted a new series of commitments in October 2010, the CEPS Road Map 2015: responsibledrinking.eu. The Roadmap includes new spirits industry commitments on marketing self-regulation and promoting responsible drinking. As with the Charter, annual progress reports on implementation will be published.

More information and related links:

Charter and it's implementation
For the Charter and the Charter progress implementation reports see the Charter and related publications page.
Charter press release (2 December 2005).

Roadmap 2015
Roadmap 2015 press release (16 November 2010).

External links
European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD).
EFRD Common Standards on commercial communications.

Last updated 16 March 2011