WINE IN MODERATION – ART DE VIVRE: CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF ACTION TO TACKLE ALCOHOL-RELATED HARM AND ENHANCE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF WINE
On 28th November 2012, one
year after the renewal of the Wine
in Moderation - Art de Vivre (WIM) commitment, representatives of the EU wine sector and partners gathered in Brussels to celebrate a year full of new activities
and achievements in the field of consumer information on responsibility and
moderation in the consumption of wine
and present the results to leading EU policy makers.
Brussels, 4th December 2012 - On November 28th, the Wine in Moderation (WIM) Aisbl celebrated in Brussels its
first anniversary as well as four consecutive years of successful
implementation of the Wine in Moderation - Art
de Vivre Program, bringing together leading representatives
of the wine and hospitality sector from 14 different countries from the EU and
beyond and leading EU policy makers.
"Following the 2011 renewal of the
WIM commitment, this event is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how a
commitment becomes action and creates a movement in securing responsible and
moderate wine consumption patterns as a social and cultural norm by spreading
the Wine in Moderation – Art de Vivre Message in Europe and beyond"
said the WIM aisbl President, Mr. George Sandeman.
Mr. Kent Nyström, President of HOTREC,
praised the recent partnership agreement between WIM aisbl and HOTREC in his speech: "It's easy to sign an agreement, the hard part is to
successfully meet its obligation. The already established collaboration at
national level set the example and we are ready to take the challenge and the
opportunities from this collaboration to develop actions and enhance social and
economic sustainability of our societies"
While the
action in education and training was demonstrated through the assessed results of the great work in
educating wine professionals carried out by
Deutsche
WeinAkademie and the objectives of the recently launched EU
funded (EC EAC's Life Long Learning Program Leonardo da Vinci ) VET-Art de Vivre Partnership Program, it was the
actions aimed at consumer that really showed the impact of the WIM activity in
the society.
In Spain, the consumer information
campaign "Quien sabe beber, sabe vivir" (led by FEV)- a European/National co-funded campaign
under the information and promotion
measures for agricultural products schemes (EC - DG AGRI), and the voluntary WIM logo labeling pilot project (led by the WIM
Ambassadors Companies Moët Hennessy and Pernod Ricard Wine Affiliates) clearly
demonstrate how the wine sector can successfully pass the moderation message
and provide necessary information in a positive, vibrant and friendly way,
securing and enhancing positive and sustainable cultural norms. The "Quien sabe beber, sabe
vivir" campaign in Spain, has set the benchmark and raised high
expectations for the future action of the wine sector in reaching the consumer with the message of
moderation and responsibility.
The case of Portugal not only showed how a
European Policy and Initiatives can be well adapted and implemented at national
level, but also how WIM ambassadors companies (Sogrape Vinhos SA) can together with the
wine sector associations (i.e. ACIBEV, AEVP)
drive action and deliver tailor-made activities addressing local needs
and specific alcohol-related problems.
Ms Despina Spanou, Chair of the European Alcohol and
Health Forum (DG SANCO), praised the success of WIM and
warmly welcomed the recent collaboration with the Hospitality Sector, urging
the filiere to further scale up effective action where the people are and where
the product is.
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About Wine in Moderation –
Art De Vivre
The Wine
in Moderation – Art de Vivre Aisbl (‘WIM Aisbl') is the Non For Profit
Organisation founded by the European wine sector to coordinate the European and
international implementation of the Wine in Moderation – Art de Vivre Programme
("WIM programme”).
The WIM
programme is the measurable commitment of the whole wine business community
to promote moderation and responsibility in the consumption of wines. Building
on the values of the Wine Culture, WIM brings an effective and specific
contribution to the reduction of alcohol-related harm, founded on science-based
information, broad-based education and sector self-regulation.
The programme
represents the wine sector's contribution to the European Commission's Alcohol
and Health Forum within the framework of the EU strategy to support Member
States in reducing alcohol related harm.
For More information
Please go to: www.wineinmoderation.eu, www.wineinformationcouncil.eu
Or contact:
Stylianos Filopoulos, Director
Wine in Moderation - Art de Vivre (WIM) Aisbl
info@wineinmoderation.eu
T +32 (0)2 230 99 70