THE FRENCH SOCIALIST PARTY LAUNCHED THE IDEA OF SPECIALIZED TV CHANNELS TO SPREAD HEALTHY AND RESPONSIBLE WINE DRINKING, BUT IT CLASHES WITH THE “EVIN LAW” WHICH PROHIBITS ADVERTISING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN FRANCE

There is controversy in France over the idea of launching special television channels dedicated to vineyards and wine. The idea was tabled in Parliament by several Socialist Party (PS) senators to legalize special pay TV channels entirely dedicated to the culture of Bacchus, which today in France is prohibited by the Evin Law. This law prohibits advertising alcoholic beverages. According to the senators, “television channels devoted to vineyards and wine, with the participation of producers, wine experts, medical professors, historians, sommeliers, experts and famous fans, would be the best education possible to guarantee a healthy and responsible way of drinking wine”.

The associations for the protection of health, however, really do not like this proposal. “The adoption of such a law would create competition with other alcoholic beverages and put the principles of the Evin Law in danger,” warned Gerard Dubois, President of the Alliance for Alcohol Prevention. In March, the Board of Directors of Audiovisual Protection (CSA) had complained of the thematic channel Edonys, which refused to change its programming”.

Any direct or indirect promotion of alcohol is prohibited. This excludes televised wine tasting,” said Francoise Laborde, director of CSA. The managers of Edonys have, however, decided to continue broadcasting from Luxembourg.