No gin without alcohol, European Court rules

If it is alcohol-free, it cannot be marketed as “gin” in the EU. This is the ruling of the European Court of Justice, following a case concerning “Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei” produced by a German manufacturer.

Alcohol at its core

Judges in Luxembourg stated that European rules draw a clear line: names such as “alcohol-free gin” are prohibited because gin, by definition, contains alcohol. A non-alcoholic drink may therefore not be presented or labeled as gin.

The case was brought by Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb, a German association that combats unfair competition, concerning an alcohol-free drink called ‘Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei’ sold by PB Vi Goods. The association argued that ‘alcohol-free gin’ is contrary to EU law because gin is produced by flavoring ethyl alcohol with juniper berries.

The Court emphasized that only the name is prohibited, not the product itself. Alcohol-free beverages may remain on the market under a different name. According to the Court, the measure is proportionate: the ban protects consumers from confusion about the composition and protects gin producers who comply with EU requirements from unfair competition.