The wine lobby is jubilant, the government grimaces. The deputies refused to reverse an amendment adopted in May by the senators under the Macron law. This amendment makes “information” possible on the alcoholwithout it being considered advertising. Deposited by Senator Gérard César (the Republicans), this text modifies the Evin law which regulates advertising on alcoholic beverages. In other words, where it was difficult to legally qualify what fell under alcohol advertising, the amendment confirmed on Thursday redefines things. Now “a communication operation carried out in favor of a product or service […] likely to be perceived as an act of promotion by a consumer of average attention “is considered as an advertisement, recalls Lexpress.
This amendment amounts to relaxing the Evin law, which regulates advertising in favor of alcoholic beverages and only authorizes it on certain media (advertising is prohibited on television, for example). Since its entry into force in 1991, all advertising must include a message reminding the dangers of alcohol abuse.
A controversial amendment
This modification of the Evin law divides politicians. The Minister of Health herself said she was worried about the unraveling of this law underpinned by a public health imperative: “tonight’s vote is a heavy blow to public health. I regret that the Macron law serves to unravel the Evin law “, she regretted on her arrival at the congress of the French Mutuality in Nantes. She now hopes that the parliamentary debate will allow this amendment to be reconsidered.
The very author of this law, Claude Evin, expressed his bitterness about this questioning of the text. He said in the columns of Le Parisien: “This amendment will de facto free up the possibility of advertising in favor of alcohol, and this almost without limit. We can do anything in terms of advertising”.
Promotion of wine tourism
The fact remains that this amendment satisfies the defenders of viticulture who, thanks to this amendment, should finally be able to promote their activity. The viticulture group of the National Assembly, through the voice of President Catherine Quéré (PS), told AFP that this amendment is a good thing because “it guarantees a clear framework for the survival of our viticulture, for the development of local wine tourism projects “.
And you, do you think this relaxation of the Evin law is a good measure? Have your say on the forum.
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