Dutch brewers want stricter rules for alcohol-free drinks

Dutch brewers want stricter Europe-wide rules for alcohol-free drinks. There are more and more options for de-alcoholized beer and wines, which all still have a tiny bit of alcohol in them. But different countries have different rules for how much alcohol a drink can contain and still be called alcohol-free or non-alcoholic, NOS reports.

In the Netherlands, beer can be called “alcoholvrij” - alcohol-free in English - if it contains less than 0.1 percent alcohol. For wine, it is 0.5 percent alcohol. Drinks up to 1.2 percent can be called low-alcohol.

Different rules apply in the rest of Europe. Germany and Belgium, for example, consider drinks up to 0.5 percent alcohol-free. In Spain, it is up to 1 percent, and in France and Italy, up to 1.2 percent.

These products are also sold in the Netherlands, meaning that supermarkets have “alcohol-free” beer on their shelves with over 1 percent alcohol in them.

Anne Lutgerink of the Nutrition Center called that misleading. “It is very annoying, especially for people who really don’t want to drink alcohol. You make a certain suggestion, and it is not correct; that is confusing.”

The trade associations of brewers in the Netherlands wouldn’t call it misleading, but definitely confusing, they told NOS.

Brewers adhere to the rules and do only what is allowed, said chairman Jos Oostendorp of Craft, which covers 200 small beer brewers. “But it is unclear to the consumer,” he said. “There are people who really don’t want to drink a drop because they are allergic to alcohol or for other reasons. Everyone has an interest in knowing what’s in it.” It is also unfair competition that Dutch brewers have to adhere to stricter rules than other brewers sold in the same stores.

Director Meint Waterlander of Nederlandse Brouwers, which represents 13 breweries, said the same. “It would be good for the consumer if there was more unity in the labels.”

The associations are discussing this topic with their counterparts in Europe. “It is on the agenda. It just cannot be arranged overnight,” Oostendorp told the broadcaster. According to him, Germany is not keen on introducing stricter or different rules. “But I expect it can make a difference in the long term.”

The Ministry of Public Health, Welfare, and Sports told NOS it would ask the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) to investigate the matter. “An alcohol volume of up to 0.5 percent can be caused by residual traces of the fermentation of natural sugars. For example, orange juice or baked bread can contain up to 0.2 percent alcohol,” the Ministry said. “If you are not allowed or do not want to drink alcohol, look at the alcohol percentage and choose an alternative that says 0.0. That way you can be sure that it does not contain alcohol.”