Confédération Européenne des Vignerons Indépendants

…1 Paris, 13 June 2022 Evaluation of the rates and structures of excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverages The European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers (CEVI) represents and defends the interests of the European Independent Winegrowers. They grow their own vine and produce themselves their wine, and in most cases run family businesses. They directly sell the fruits of their labour to the consumers, and actively contribute to the development of the entrepreneurial fabric of the internal market. Independent winegrowers play a key role in many rural areas, and have a positive impact on the local dynamism and economy.

…winegrowers play a key role in many rural areas, and have a positive impact on the local dynamism and economy. However, independent winegrowers have suffered the negative impact of the sanitary crisis, in addition to other local factors of difficulty (climatic hazards, US customs duties, supply of dry materials ...), in order to allow the wine sector to recover, it is advisable not to increase the minimum rates of excise duties. The European Union must insure a fluid single market to economic operators and to consumers. Increasing the minimum excise duty rate will benefit neither to producers, neither to consumers. SMEs, such as the independent winegrowers are supporting a heavy administrative burden and cost that would be exacerbated by changing the minimum excise duty rate.

…supporting a heavy administrative burden and cost that would be exacerbated by changing the minimum excise duty rate. Indeed, independent winegrowers need stability and consistence, therefore having a moving variable base would hamper intra-EU trade and weaken SMEs. The inflation rate base was rejected because is very fluctuating and different from one Member State to another, as well as the alcohol by volume changes from one wine to another and from one vintage to another. This situation will create a lack of visibility and an extra-cost for independent winegrowers. It would seriously fragilise the activity of SMEs towards the large structures. CEVI is proposing since many years to build a one-stop shop for excise duty payment which will significantly reduce the risk of fraud. But, the European Commission have not created yet.

…duty payment which will significantly reduce the risk of fraud. But, the European Commission have not created yet. The Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the parliamentary report mention the objective of reducing excessive consumption by at least 10% by 2025, but an increase in minimum excise rates does not affect consumption patterns but the price only. This would penalise all consumers, the majority of whom are moderate. Moreover, the argument of taxation to reduce Ref. Ares(2022)4899962 - 05/07/2022 2 hazardous consumption is debated, as several studies have shown that heavy drinkers are less sensitive to alcohol prices than moderate consumers. On one hand, in France, the drastic increase in beer taxes (+160% in 2013) did not have a long- term effect on beer consumption, with a short decline followed by a recovery and then an increase in consumption.

…long- term effect on beer consumption, with a short decline followed by a recovery and then an increase in consumption. On the other hand, the stability of wine circulation duties (excluding inflation) has had no effect on wine consumption, which has been in structural decline since the 1960s. To tackle harmful consumption patterns, consumer education should be a priority. CEVI, for all of that reasons, truly believes that minimum excise duty rate should remain the same, zero. And the base, should also remain the hectolitre. Maintaining these conditions are essential to build sustainable activities for independent winegrowers in Europe. Contact: Céline Meyer, Policy Advisor [email protected], Tel: + 33 (0) 1 53 66 32 99 About CEVI: CEVI is the only organisation representing and defending the interests of independent winegrowers at European level.

…is the only organisation representing and defending the interests of independent winegrowers at European level. CEVI counts today 12 000 members from 13 different States. Independent winegrowers are entrepreneurs at the head of a micro/small enterprise, often a family business. They make everything from the field to the bottle meaning that they produce and sell their wines directly to the consumer.

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