They lead an intense battle for years. The members Wine and Society today welcomed the vote on this night. This association created in 2004 acts on behalf of 500,000 players in the wine industry in France and urges parliamentarians to change the Evin law in 1991. Clearly, their lobbying activity aims to relax the law that prohibits the advertising of alcoholic beverages in France. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, members of left and right have proved them right by voting in committee an amendment to that effect in the context of the Macron law.
What is it? In the lobby of the wine, the Evin law would make it difficult to press articles promoting wine. The Delegate General of the association Vin et Société spoke Thursday on LCI “legal uncertainty” that could lead to publications of the risk of litigation on the part of the alcoholism prevention associations. Yet the argument resists badly to numbers. According to Le Monde, since 1991, only three articles were the subject of legal proceedings. Given the number of articles and regularly spent files to wine in the media, the risk is low.
Behind wine, liquor lobby
For the Ministry of Health, the vote of Deputies is a new sign of the influence of lobbies on a number of parliamentarians, former phenomenon that transcends all political boundaries. The amendment voted last night was passed in early May by a senator from Gironde , 70, a member of the Republicans. The entire group of viticulture National Assembly , chaired by the Socialist MP and winemaker Catherine Quéré (Charente-Maritime), called these last hours “in conscience and responsibility” to maintain the amendment voted Senate on the grounds that “it provides a clear framework for the survival of our viticulture and for the development of local wine tourism projects.” However, a government source explained that “the wine world is not suffering because of the Loi Evin. We want the status quo, nothing more. ”
Outraged “and” scandalized “by a” shameful provision “, fifteen associations for health and prevention of alcoholism felt in a joint statement that” this text passed under the dictation of alcohol lobby offers a definition of advertising that will make the de facto inapplicable Evin Law and boundless open a boulevard to the advertising incentive for alcohol consumption. “Unusually, the National Institute against Cancer is also mounted to the wall for “recall the major public health issues that are the links between alcohol and cancer and the impact of communication on the consumption of alcohol.” Alcohol is the “second preventable cause of mortality cancer after tobacco in France “, causing 15,000 deaths from cancer each year, says the Inca.
Anger Touraine
If the associations evoke a “lobby of alcohol,” it is not by chance. For some parliamentarians favorable to Evin law, are not the growers who are to maneuver in this debate in the Assembly but large groups of wine and spirits. Indeed, advertising expenditure is costly and reserved for companies far removed small wineries. “Go rather see the side of Pernod Ricard or Champagne brands,” said one elected. It is they who have an interest in the Evin law changed. ”
Still, the health minister does not intend to let this amendment as it stands. While Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron has not tabled last night against amendment in committee as the government had planned (involuntary forgetfulness or partisan?) Marisol Touraine warned that the general debate next week in the Assembly would push back the offensive of pro-wine deputies. To be continued.
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