Union of Oenologists chairman concerned about ban on ads for alcohol

The Government’s policy aimed at supporting winegrowers and winemakers is not correct, chairman of the Union of Oenologists Gheorghe Arpentin stated for Free Europe radio station when asked to comment on the bill to ban advertising of all types of alcoholic beverages, which was approved by the executive, Info-Prim Neo reports. “For several years, the Union of Oenologists has struggled to obtain the removal of the dry wines of a high quality from the category of strong alcoholic beverages so that they are considered agrifood products, as in the countries with century-old wine traditions. And now, when we started to implement an extraordinary program to support the wine industry, for which the European Investment Bank provided a loan of €75 million, when we want to modernize the production and quality testing process, when we need wide promotion campaigns, the advertising is banned,” said Gheorghe Arpentin. He also said that the wine producers understand the problems deriving from the lack of drinking culture that results in abuse and often chronic alcoholism. These facts affect families and society. But the banning of publicity will not change the situation, according to the oenologist. As many as 44,000 bottles of vodka and only 3,000 bottles of wine are drunk in Moldova annually. The situation can be remedied only by a long educative process conducted by the public authorities and civil society. Gheorghe Arpentin informed that effort is made to launch the country brand under which the Moldovan products will be sold abroad – “Moldova Wine”. Four brands of wine with name of origin will be soon registered with the State Agency on Industrial Property Protection AGEPI. These brands will be officially launched on the National Wine Day.