In the context of the discussion on the EU Plan on Cardiovascular health, and the current debate on the European Parliament Non-Legislative Initiative (INI) on cardiovascular diseases, Eat Europe and Farm Europe sent a letter to all members of the EP Committee on Public Health, calling on European institutions to address the issue of alcohol consumption with a serious, balanced approach firmly grounded in scientific evidence.
Preventing cardiovascular diseases is a public health priority, just as it is essential to decisively tackle alcohol abuse, one of the most significant risk factors. Both organizations stress the importance of clearly distinguishing between abuse and moderate consumption, avoiding oversimplifications that risk undermining the effectiveness of proposed policies.
Speaking generically about “alcohol consumption” can be misleading. Scientific literature shows that health effects depend on multiple factors, including the type of beverage, patterns, and context of consumption, as well as overall lifestyle. In particular, wine is not merely a solution of ethanol, but a phytocomplex characterized by a matrix of components – including polyphenols, anthocyanins, resveratrol, and other bioactive compounds – which may help modulate its overall effects on the body.
Recent studies also suggest that moderate wine consumption, within a balanced dietary and behavioural context, may be associated with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Such findings should not be dismissed as mere “common thinking” or stigmatized in the public debate.
In this context, Eat Europe and Farm Europe express concern over approaches that overlook a significant share of scientific evidence in favour of uniform, non-differentiated strategies. Policies based solely on restrictive measures risk being not only ineffective but also counterproductive. In particular, the hypothesis of a generalized increase in taxation does not appear to deliver concrete public health outcomes and may instead encourage a shift toward lower-quality products.
At the same time, the organizations acknowledge that ongoing information initiatives – including labelling tools and off-label communication – are contributing to greater consumer awareness and fostering more responsible choices.
“In such a sensitive area, it is essential to remain anchored in evidence rather than ideology. Distinguishing between moderate consumption and abuse is key to designing policies that are both effective and credible,” said Luigi Scordamaglia, President of Eat Europe.
“The European Union has the opportunity to adopt a balanced approach that recognizes the scientific complexity of the issue while safeguarding both public health and a strategic agri-food sector,” added Yves Madro, President of Farm Europe.
Ahead of the vote on the INI scheduled for early May, Eat Europe and Farm Europe call on the European Parliament to adopt a more balanced, evidence-based approach—one that distinguishes between risky behaviours and responsible consumption patterns, and acknowledges the complexity of the issue without resorting to simplistic narratives.
O artigo foi publicado originalmente em Farm Europe.
