Other future events include the European Alcohol and Health Forum Plenary and the Open Forum, on 18 and 19 November respectively, as well as the annual CEPS Conference on 16 November.  This will not only be an opportunity for us to recap what we have been doing over the last five years in the area of Alcohol in Society, but it will also allows us to introduce our new commitments to help reduce alcohol related harm for 2010-15.  At the conference we will also discuss the highlights of a report showing the economic contribution of the spirits drinks industry to the EU Economy.

The most important source of European government revenues from the spirits industry is excise, followed by VAT revenues.  Over the last few months, as the industry continues to deal with the effects of the economic crisis, CEPS has been working hard not only to monitor increases in spirits drinks excise rates, but also to take action where such increases are disproportionate.  As a consequence of the economic situation, obvious protectionist moves have been made by several national governments in relation to the taxation of spirits drinks.  This is of course against the principles of the EU Treaty.

In each edition of the newsletter we focus on one of the following FOUR topics to give you an insight into some of the developments in that area;

ALCOHOL & SOCIETY                    TRADE                  INTERNAL MARKET                 FISCAL AFFAIRS 

Each edition will also contain a section entitled INDUSTRY INITIATIVES where you will find specific information on voluntary initiatives introduced by the spirits industry to help reduced alcohol related harm.

Lastly we will present a COUNTRY FOCUS on one EU Member State to give you an insight into this country’s industry and some interesting facts and statistics.

In THIS EDITION of the newsletter you will gain an insight into the FISCAL AFFAIRS world, then in the ISSUE FOCUS we will give you the lowdown on INDIA AND THE SPIRITS SECTOR.

This month's INDUSTRY INITIATIVE takes a look at what one Member State –THE UNITED KINGDOM- has been doing to encourage its citizens to drink responsibly. By facilitating and increasing the sharing of best practices, CEPS hopes to have an impact on reducing alcohol related harm.

Lastly we will use our COUNTRY FOCUS to take a look at the spirits industry in BELGIUM.  Current EU Presidency holders, a hub for spirits imports and exports, and at the same time a country active in trying to educate its citizens on the dangers of alcohol abuse.

The European Spirits Organisation – CEPS is the representative body for the spirits industry at European level. Its membership comprises 31 national associations representing the industry in 27 countries, as well as a group of leading spirits producing companies.