Statement

CEGROBB believes that any alcohol temperance policy should focus on preventing alcohol abuse. Therefore, CEGROBB is a proponent of sound instruction for youth regarding responsible alcohol use. CEGROBB rejects a general advertising ban for beverages containing alcohol. CEGROBB also advocates a Europe-wide maximum blood alcohol level of 0.05% for road users. Furthermore, CEGROBB is in favour of maintaining the existing outlets for beverages containing alcohol.

Arguments

CEGROBB supports policies focused on prevention of alcohol abuse, because:

• many anti-alcohol measures have not resulted in the desired effect; CEGROBB, therefore, also rejects these measures.

CEGROBB is also in favour of a uniform European maximum blood alcohol level of 0.05% for road users, because:

• it would promote unambiguous compliance with and enforcement of regulations.

CEGROBB also advocates maintaining existing outlets because:

• it is important for maintaining employment in the industry and thereby the continuation of the industry.

Statement

CEGROBB supports the current European competition policy when it contributes to the maintenance of a balance of power between manufacturers and wholesalers. The current European competition policy prevents abuse of power, thereby fostering diversity in products and brands and contributing significantly to strengthening of the wholesale sector and maintaining and increasing employment in the sector. CEGROBB rejects the idea of member states interfering in or deviating from the European competition policy, the national procedures have to be in harmony with this. CEGROBB is of the opinion that the beverages wholesalers, on behalf of their functions, have an important corrective function on the effects of industrial concentration. To the European Commission, CEGROBB stresses the importance of the wholesalers and their role in the intercommunity trade , all in the interest of the final consumer.

Statement

CEGROBB advocates harmonisation of taxes and duties on beverages and packaging in general.
CEGROBB is in favour of a European-wide implementation of the lowest tariff valid in one of the member states on wines, beers, soft drinks and waters (in some cases this means the 0%-tariff). CEGROBB dismisses the discriminatory action resulting from the levying of taxes and duties on particular categories of beverages; CEGROBB is in favour of greater uniformity in regard to beverage tariffs. CEGROBB is also of the opinion that tax on deposit money should be lifted.

Arguments

• CEGROBB rejects the principle of intercommunity trade on the basis of inequality in taxes and duties.
• CEGROBB is of the opinion that beverages containing alcohol should not serve as ‘cash cows’.
• CEGROBB is of the opinion that tax on deposit money promotes the use of single-use packaging and can thereby hamper the achievement of collection objectives to a serious degree.

Statement

The members of CEGROBB reaffirm their willingness to contribute, within the scope of their competencies and responsibilities, to the effective implementation of the European Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR).

As essential intermediaries between beverage producers and customers—particularly professionals in the HORECA sector (cafés, hotels, restaurants)—beverage wholesalers play a structuring role in the organization of logistical flows, the operational management of containers, and the dissemination of good practices among their customers.

Without replacing the responsibilities of producers placing products on the market or the obligations of producer responsibility organizations (eco-organisations), the profession wishes to publicly affirm its readiness to support European objectives, provided that the systems put in place recognize its specific role and ensure a fair distribution of responsibilities and costs.

I – Our contribution to the objectives of the PPWR

CEGROBB members share the main orientations of the PPWR:

• The reduction of packaging waste and the development of a more circular economy;
• The scaling-up of reuse solutions where relevant;
• The improvement of packaging collection and recycling performance.

As distributors, their position at the heart of the value chain enables them to:

• Facilitate, through their logistics organizations, the collection and return of packaging when appropriate systems exist and when technical and economic conditions are met;
• Encourage and prioritize packaging formats that support reuse;
• Support their customers and suppliers in understanding and adopting regulatory changes;
• Contribute field feedback and facilitate the exchange of best practices to improve the relevance and efficiency of deployed systems.

CEGROBB supports all balanced approaches that help accelerate the transition towards more circular and sustainable models.

In this context, it intends to fully participate in this movement and commits to promoting a gradual convergence towards shared sustainability standards, while respecting the specificities of each national market and the diversity of economic models.

II – Our vision to support European ambitions

CEGROBB members promote a vision of a circular economy in which:

• Packaging is designed to be better collected, reused, or recycled
• Each actor in the value chain contributes to supporting this transformation.

Ambitious initiatives already observed in several Member States—whether advanced deposit-return systems or strengthened reuse targets—demonstrate that a progressive transformation is possible when regulatory frameworks, economic models, and operational realities are aligned.

In this context, CEGROBB encourages cooperation with producers, eco-organisations, logistics partners, and public authorities to design efficient and sustainable operational solutions.

As indispensable links in beverage distribution, CEGROBB members affirm their willingness to contribute, in their role as logistics and commercial intermediaries, to the challenges posed by the PPWR and to turn them into an opportunity for positive transformation for all stakeholders in the sector.

The profession will continue to act with responsibility and transparency by:

• Supporting its members in understanding and implementing new requirements.
• Participating, where relevant and supported, in the organization of return and collection flows;
• Advocating, with public authorities and partners, for a balanced and realistic approach to the transition towards more circular models.

This ambition is part of a long-term perspective, serving a coherent and effective ecological transition that benefits consumers, businesses, and the environment alike, while respecting the specific competencies and responsibilities of each actor in the value chain.