The issues
CEPS Charter on Responsible Alcohol Consumption
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.The Charter comprises seven key principles:
- Advertising to include responsible drinking messages: By 2010, 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.
The second Charter progress report covers the period July 2006 to July 2007 and was published on 28 November 2007 together with the Drinks Industry Initiatives Brochure 2007. The latter, jointly produced with the
European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD), maps all key industry initiatives across the EU.
Together with the European Forum on Responsible Drinking, the European Spirits Organisation - CEPS assists its members in countries where there has been hitherto little or no tradition or structure of self-regulatory mechanisms, in order to ensure that all members reach the 2010 commitments the industry has set itself. In addition to providing templates for websites and education campaigns, as well as a Charter implementation toolkit, in June 2008 the European Spirits Organisation - CEPS also organised its second Charter implementation seminar targeted at member associations and companies from the new EU countries.
Work on the third Charter progress report is already underway, and its publication is scheduled for November 2008.
Related links:
European Spirits Organisation - CEPS Charter press release (2 December 2005)
European Spirits Organisation - CEPS Charter on Responsible Alcohol Consumption. Other available languages: French, German and Spanish.
European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD)
Last updated on 31 July 2008.