France rejects changes to the Evin Law

An amendment to loosen France’s alcohol advertising laws has been rejected by the country’s highest lawmaking body.

Earlier this summer, French MPs voted against the government and backed a move to amend the country’s strict alcohol advertising laws.

The Loi Evin as the 1991 alcohol advertising law is known, banned TV advertising of any drink with an alcohol content of more than 1.2% and kicked the industry out of sporting and cultural event sponsorships.

The campaign to soften the law was led by Gérard César a senator and former winemaker and his campaign seemed to be building a good head of steam before it ran into the Constitutional Council late last week.

The changes to the Evin Law were being proposed as part of the Marcron Law which is designed to stimulate the flagging French economy.

The amendments made up just one of 18 articles rejected by the council because they were deemed “not relevant” to the particular set of laws being covered under Marcron.

Anti-alcoholism campaigners welcomed the news saying they were “satisfied” with the ruling that had “wisely” rejected a health-related issue that was “piggybacking” on an economic law.

Supporters of the law point to wine tourism in France as increasingly important to the economy with one politician in Bordeaux, Gilles Savary, saying the council had “misunderstood the social and economic impact of wine tourism on the French economy.”

The amendments have not been dismissed altogether and can be resubmitted, campaigners say they will fight on and have appealed to president François Hollande.