A beverage called “gin” must contain alcohol and juniper berries, and have an alcohol content of at least 37.5%, Europe’s top court has ruled. A German group took exception to a “Virgin Gin” non-alcoholic product.
‘Gin’ must contain alcohol, top European court says
Symbolic, undated image of two iced gin and tonics with lime and rosemary.
If you’re seeking a virgin G&T, it may be in need of a rebrand in EuropeImage: Katerina Solovyeva/Zoonar/picture alliance
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Beverages bearing the name “gin” must contain alcohol, Europe’s top court declared on Thursday.
The VSW German business association had appealed to the court, saying that a product sold by PB VI Goods and called “Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei” (“Non-alcoholic Virgin Gin”) was in breach of a 2019 EU definition of gin.
This states that “gin should be produced by flavouring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with juniper berries, and the minimum alcoholic strength by volume of that ethyl alcohol must be 37.5%,” as the court put it in a press release.
BusinessEurope
‘Gin’ must contain alcohol, top European court says
A beverage called “gin” must contain alcohol and juniper berries, and have an alcohol content of at least 37.5%, Europe’s top court has ruled. A German group took exception to a “Virgin Gin” non-alcoholic product.
Beverages bearing the name “gin” must contain alcohol, Europe’s top court declared on Thursday.
The VSW German business association had appealed to the court, saying that a product sold by PB VI Goods and called “Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei” (“Non-alcoholic Virgin Gin”) was in breach of a 2019 EU definition of gin.
This states that “gin should be produced by flavouring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with juniper berries, and the minimum alcoholic strength by volume of that ethyl alcohol must be 37.5%,” as the court put it in a press release.
