The European Parliament has today thrown out unnecessary proposals encouraging cigarette-style warnings of bottles of alcohol. This is a victory for common sense. Puritanical anti-alcohol lobbyists are outraged, but could it not just be that, frankly, the last thing we want is to be hectored by a demonising label on a bottle of Bordeaux?
Inevitably, there is likely to be more drinking in colder, more northern EU member states, where drink makes winter nights more palatable. But states across the EU could benefit from looking at France. It seems to offer a good model for encouraging responsible drinking. By normalising wine at an early age, giving children watered-down glasses, it takes away much of the urge to binge-drink upon adulthood.
In essence, the debate is really about whether the EU should treat its citizens as adults or as children. Today is a good day for adulthood.
Tags: alcohol, european union, nanny state