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The Press: EU ‘bans Brits boozing’ - The Sun (UK)

EU health chiefs are drawing up plans to close thousands of British off-licences, it was claimed yesterday. The proposal is said to be part of a drive to curb alcohol abuse across Europe. Other measures include a Monday to Friday ban on off-sales and huge booze price hikes through tax rises. A blueprint masterminded by EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou also contains moves to control sales through a state-run monopoly and stricter drink-drive penalties. The plan, revealed by a German newspaper, was condemned here by the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations. A spokesman said: “It is another of these silly EU moves where they come up with daft proposals that benefit no one.”
(The Sun, 21 February 2005)

The Facts:

Naturally, the EU has no plans or secret documents proposing to clamp down on off licenses by closing them or banning Monday-Friday sales. The EU does not have, nor does it seek, the power to propose such measures which are a matter for national governments. The facts are that, at the request of all EU health ministers including those of the UK and Germany, the EU is looking into ways to reduce the harm caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, particularly among young people.

The document referred to is a working paper, prepared after consultation with all Member States and the drinks industry, that collects views on possible ways to combat excessive drinking which causes much social harm in the form of violence and accidents. It contains a review of measures already in place in different Member States and suggests possible areas for action by governments, industry and the EU which could support or complement national measures.

Notes:

So the EU is looking into ways to reduce the harm caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, nothing in the press report is contradicted by the Facts. Our government has just announced it intends to introduce measures to raise taxes in order to cut consumption.