A shared commitment

St Thomas Aquinas once said that “wine should be enjoyed in moderation”, a maxim that is especially true when it comes to Champagne. More than just a drink, Champagne accompanies life’s special occasions. There may be millions of bubbles, but each flute must be enjoyed in moderation.

Well aware of the risks associated with excessive or inappropriate drinking, including drink driving and underage drinking, the Champagne community is actively committed to promoting responsible consumption. In accordance with French public health legislation, the Évin Act in particular, they encourage a controlled approach to alcohol consumption.

This is an issue of the utmost importance which various stakeholders have rallied behind: wine professionals, prevention associations and public health organisations of course, but also such structures as the Comité Champagne and Vin & Société. They are united in their efforts to raise awareness and educate in moderate consumption:

• The public authorities play a key role in raising awareness about the effects of alcohol, especially the dangers for pregnant women, by setting blood-alcohol drink drive limits and by running prevention campaigns.
• Champagne Houses and Growers have introduced systematic tools, such as providing spittoons, water and breathalysers during their wine tourism activities, to promote moderate, responsible drinking.
• Prevention associations inform about the effects of alcohol and encourage responsible practices through awareness-raising initiatives and campaigns.

These different stakeholders operate within a broader regulatory framework, recognised as essential at international level, even if the arrangements for putting it into practice may vary from one country to the next. In France, each advertisement must state a health warning, such as: “Alcohol abuse is hazardous for your health. Please enjoy responsibly“, and the legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 years old. The rules differ in other countries: in Malta, for example, the legal age is 17 years old, while in the United States it’s 21 years old.

Advice for a responsible tasting session

Vin & Société, of which the Comité Champagne is a member, brings together wine sector stakeholders in France. As a member of the European “Wine in Moderation” network, this structure engages in education and prevention measures to encourage responsible consumption. These initiatives give a reminder that tastings should always be carried out with moderation in mind.

To get full enjoyment out of a tasting session, some simple practices can make all the difference:

• Serve the right amount: use a marked glass to ensure a measured serving.
• Regularly drink water: drinking water during a tasting session enables better appreciation of the flavours.
• Offer snacks: these pair naturally with the wine tasting.
• Provide breathalysers: an essential tool to guarantee a safe conclusion to the tasting.

A tasting session brings the five senses into play, but the most important is the sixth one: our sense of responsibility. Taking the time to explore the subtleties of a Champagne is also about paying tribute to a growing region and its unique expertise. Each tasting thus becomes an experience immersing us in a UNESCO-listed living heritage.