Belgian brewers push back against new government alcohol health warnings

Belgian brewers are fighting a proposed government change to health warnings on alcohol adverts that removes a single word. The state wants to update the current warning from stating that the abuse of alcohol is harmful to health, to simply stating that alcohol is harmful for health. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke introduced the plan in spring and it is still being debated in parliament. He says the goal is to protect young people and give adults accurate information. Brewers argue the change hurts a vital part of the economy and unfairly targets a national tradition. AB InBev, the world's biggest beer maker, is leading the pushback alongside other makers. The company launched a press campaign in August with newspaper ads questioning the new rules and defending responsible drinking. Krishan Maudgal, head of the Belgian Brewers association, calls the move a paternalistic approach and notes that local beer consumption has dropped by nearly forty percent over the past twenty to thirty years. Meanwhile, some health groups say the government plan does not go far enough. Belgium's Superior Health Council wants a complete ban on alcohol ads and health warnings on bottles and cans. Addiction specialist Martin de Duve supports the stricter wording and criticizes producers for making a big deal out of a minor sentence change.