There is no drink of moderation, only a practice of moderation

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Embark on a journey through Europe

From Irish Whiskey to Hungarian Pálinka to French Cognac, there are over 240 unique distilling traditions protected by EU Geographical indications.

Making spirits the fastest growing export for the EU, among alcoholic beverages

The race to consumers

Unequal measures increasingly prevent the spirits industry from competing with the same conditions as beer and wine.

Spirits generate nearly €3 in €5 of all alcohol excise revenues in the EU. Yet they account for less then 1 in 4 alcoholic beverages consumed in the single market

The tax content of a typical spirits drink is, on average, 4 times higher than glass of beer and 6 times higher than in a glass of wine

... and there is Zero excise duty on wine in over half of EU countries (16 of 27)

Distillers face stricter advertising restrictions for their products in 12 EU countries

These unequal measures increasingly prevents the spirits industry from competing with the same conditions as beer and wine. Unequal treatment leaves spirits behind. Let's treat them equally.

The road to #AllDrinksAreEqual

EU and national policymakers can provide the spirit, wine, and beer industries with equal opportunities to innovate and compete through:

Equal
taxation

Link taxation directly to alcohol content, rather than drink type, to strengthen consumer knowledge and fair competition.

Equal business
incentives

Ensure that business incentives to create craft or low-alcohol products apply to all drink types equally.

Equal
regulations

Regulate the advertising and sale of alcohol in the same manner across drink types to reinforce consumer awareness of drinks equality.

Drink inequality has
a negative impact on:

Consumers

Distillers

Retailers

Bar professionals

Does your country treat all drinks equally?

Click on the flags to find out

Sweden
Spirits are taxed 2.3 times more than beer, 2.0 times more than wine
Finland
Spirits are taxed 1.5 times more than beer, 1.3 times more than wine
Estonia
Spirits are taxed 1.5 times more than beer, 1.4 times more than wine
Latvia
Spirits are taxed 2.1 times more than beer, 1.7 times more than wine
Lithuania
Spirits are taxed 2.6 times more than beer, 1.2 times more than wine
Poland
Spirits are taxed 2.9 times more than beer, 4.0 times more than wine
Germany
Spirits are taxed 6.6 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Netherlands
Spirits are taxed 2.3 times more than beer, 2.1 times more than wine
Belgium
Spirits are taxed 6.0 times more than beer, 4.4 times more than wine
Luxembourg
Spirits are taxed 5.2 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
France
Spirits are taxed 3.1 times more than beer, 67.0 times more than wine
Spain
Spirits are taxed 4.8 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Portugal
Spirits are taxed 3.3 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Ireland
Spirits are taxed 1.9 times more than beer, 1.1 times more than wine
Czech republic
Spirits are taxed 4.4 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Slovakia
Spirits are taxed 4.2 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Hungary
Spirits are taxed 3.1 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Austria
Spirits are taxed 2.4 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Italy
Spirits are taxed 1.4 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Slovenia
Spirits are taxed 1.1 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Croatia
Spirits are taxed 1.5 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Romania
Spirits are taxed 4.0 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Bulgaria
Spirits are taxed 2.9 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Greece
Spirits are taxed 2.0 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Cyprus
Spirits are taxed 1.6 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Denmark
Spirits are taxed 3.1 times more than beer, 1.5 times more than wine
Malta
Spirits are taxed 2.8 times more than beer, 7.3 times more than wine

As of Jan 2024, source SpiritsEUROPE based on DG TAXUD

Does your country treat all drinks equally?

Click on the flags to find out

Sweden
Spirits are taxed 2.3 times more than beer, 2.0 times more than wine
Finland
Spirits are taxed 1.5 times more than beer, 1.3 times more than wine
Estonia
Spirits are taxed 1.5 times more than beer, 1.4 times more than wine
Latvia
Spirits are taxed 2.1 times more than beer, 1.7 times more than wine
Lithuania
Spirits are taxed 2.6 times more than beer, 1.2 times more than wine
Poland
Spirits are taxed 2.9 times more than beer, 4.0 times more than wine
Germany
Spirits are taxed 6.6 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Netherlands
Spirits are taxed 2.3 times more than beer, 2.1 times more than wine
Belgium
Spirits are taxed 6.0 times more than beer, 4.4 times more than wine
Luxembourg
Spirits are taxed 5.2 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
France
Spirits are taxed 3.1 times more than beer, 67.0 times more than wine
Spain
Spirits are taxed 4.8 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Portugal
Spirits are taxed 3.3 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Ireland
Spirits are taxed 1.9 times more than beer, 1.1 times more than wine
Czech republic
Spirits are taxed 4.4 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Slovakia
Spirits are taxed 4.2 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Hungary
Spirits are taxed 3.1 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Austria
Spirits are taxed 2.4 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Italy
Spirits are taxed 1.4 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Slovenia
Spirits are taxed 1.1 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Croatia
Spirits are taxed 1.5 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Romania
Spirits are taxed 4.0 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Bulgaria
Spirits are taxed 2.9 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Greece
Spirits are taxed 2.0 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Cyprus
Spirits are taxed 1.6 times more than beer, while there is no duty on still wine
Denmark
Spirits are taxed 3.1 times more than beer, 1.5 times more than wine
Malta
Spirits are taxed 2.8 times more than beer, 7.3 times more than wine

As of Jan 2024, source SpiritsEUROPE based on DG TAXUD

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#AllDrinksAreEqual Video

A spirited continent

Embark on a journey to discover Europe's unique distilling tradition. From Irish Whiskey to Hungarian Pálinka to French Cognac, there are over 240 un

#AllDrinksAreEqual Video

Unequal measure

Spirits, like beer and wine, play an important role in European culture and economy. Yet, spirits face significantly higher tax rates and greater rest

Discover more

Image gallery

Bloody marry 30ml of 40% ABV vodka Worcester sauce Tomato juice Lemon juice Celery

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There is no drink of moderation, only a practice of moderation

Let's treat them equally.

Embark on a journey through Europe

The race to consumers

The road to #AllDrinksAreEqual

Equal taxation

Equal business incentives

Equal regulations

Drink inequality has a negative impact on:

Consumers

Distillers

Retailers

Bar professionals

Does your country treat all drinks equally?

Sweden

Finland

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Poland

Germany

Netherlands

Belgium

Luxembourg

France

Spain

Portugal

Ireland

Czech republic

Slovakia

Hungary

Austria

Italy

Slovenia

Croatia

Romania

Bulgaria

Greece

Cyprus

Denmark

Malta

Does your country treat all drinks equally?

Sweden

Finland

Estonia

Latvia

Lithuania

Poland

Germany

Netherlands

Belgium

Luxembourg

France

Spain

Portugal

Ireland

Czech republic

Slovakia

Hungary

Austria

Italy

Slovenia

Croatia

Romania

Bulgaria

Greece

Cyprus

Denmark

Malta

Take action

Latest news

A spirited continent

Unequal measure

Image gallery

Equal
taxation

Equal business
incentives

Equal
regulations

Drink inequality has
a negative impact on: