Federal Association of the German Spirits Industry and Importers

The Federal Association of the German Spirits Industry and Importers (Bundesverband der Deutschen Spirituosen-Industrie und -Importeure e.V., or BSI) is the umbrella trade association of the German spirits sector. Founded at the end of 1974, it is a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Bonn, with offices in Bonn, Berlin and Brussels. Its members are German-based spirits producers and importers, and the association states that its members account for roughly 85% of turnover in the German spirits brands market. The BSI acts as the political voice and advisory body for its member companies, representing their economic-policy interests before parliaments, governments and authorities at federal and state level in Germany, at EU level and internationally. It also engages in public relations work and provides legal advice and other services to members. The association is listed in the official register of lobby associations accredited to the German Bundestag. Membership includes a large number of medium-sized spirits companies as direct members, with additional members served indirectly through four BSI regional groups and through cooperation with the Verband Deutscher Whiskybrenner (VDW), totaling around 220 companies. There are also 38 supporting members from the wider spirits sector, such as glass manufacturers, logistics partners and label producers. The BSI itself is a member of numerous German specialist and umbrella associations, including the Lebensmittelverband Deutschland, the Markenverband and the Zentralverband der Deutschen Werbewirtschaft, as well as the European umbrella body Spirits Europe (formerly the European Spirits Organisation – CEPS). The association publishes an annual statistical publication, Daten aus der Alkoholwirtschaft, providing current statistics on the industry and on alcohol consumption in Germany and the EU. It consistently points to the significantly higher taxation of spirits (Branntweinsteuer, and where applicable Alkopopsteuer) compared with beer (Biersteuer) and especially wine, which is not subject to any consumption tax (unlike sparkling wine, which is subject to Schaumweinsteuer). In public, the BSI and most of its member companies advocate moderate and enjoyable alcohol consumption, supported since 2009 by the logo 'Maßvoll genießen' ('Enjoy in moderation'). 82% of member companies incorporate corresponding consumer-protection notices into their advertising. For several years the BSI has appeared above all with prevention campaigns against alcohol misuse, in order to counter growing pressure on the industry. Particularly at EU level, efforts intensified in the mid-2000s to push through far-reaching restrictions on the alcohol industry within the framework of the 'Anti-Alcohol Strategy' running until 2012, including advertising bans, blood-alcohol limits, warning labels on bottles and tax increases. According to a Spiegel report, producers feared that 'the alcohol industry could today find itself where the cigarette industry stood three decades ago: at the beginning of a long trek into banishment.' Against this background, the BSI founded the Arbeitskreis Alkohol und Verantwortung (AAuV, Working Group Alcohol and Responsibility) in 2005. The body develops, according to its own statements, 'sustainable prevention and self-regulation measures for the responsible handling of alcoholic beverages.' These include a self-commitment by member companies not to direct their advertising at young people, for example by refraining under the rules of the European umbrella association CEPS from advertising with models under 25 (since 2009), not offering certain packaging such as tubes or sprays (since 2010), or placing advertising only in media or environments where more than 70% of consumers are adults (since 2010).

The Bundesverband der Deutschen Spirituosen-Industrie und -Importeure e.V. (BSI) was founded at the end of 1974 as the umbrella association of the German spirits industry, in the legal form of a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) with its seat in Bonn. Since its founding, it has served as the strong interest representation of spirits producers and importers based in Germany. From the outset, the BSI has acted as a political voice and advisory body, supporting its member companies in Bonn, Berlin and Brussels. It represents the economic-policy interests of spirits producers and importers vis-à-vis parliament, government and authorities at federal and state level, at EU level and internationally, and conducts public relations work. For its member companies it offers legal advice and other services. The association maintains an office in Bonn, Berlin and Brussels and is listed in the official register of lobby associations accredited to the German Bundestag. Membership has grown to include a large number of medium-sized spirits companies as direct members. Indirectly, further members are served through four BSI regional groups and through cooperation with the Verband Deutscher Whiskybrenner (VDW), totaling around 220 companies. There are also 38 supporting members from the spirits sector, such as glass manufacturers, logistics partners and label producers. The BSI itself is a member of numerous German specialist and umbrella associations, including the Lebensmittelverband Deutschland, the Markenverband and the Zentralverband der Deutschen Werbewirtschaft, as well as the European umbrella body Spirits Europe (formerly the European Spirits Organisation – CEPS). In its public relations work, the BSI has published the annual Daten aus der Alkoholwirtschaft, providing current statistics on the industry and on alcohol consumption in Germany and the EU. It consistently highlights the significantly higher taxation of spirits (Branntweinsteuer, and where applicable Alkopopsteuer) compared with beer (Biersteuer) and especially wine, which is not subject to any consumption tax (unlike sparkling wine, which is subject to Schaumweinsteuer). In public, the BSI and most of its member companies advocate moderate and enjoyable alcohol consumption, supported since 2009 by the logo 'Maßvoll genießen'. 82% of member companies incorporate corresponding consumer-protection notices into their advertising. For several years the BSI has appeared above all with prevention campaigns against alcohol misuse, in order to counter growing pressure on the industry. Particularly at EU level, efforts intensified in the mid-2000s to push through far-reaching restrictions on the alcohol industry within the framework of the 'Anti-Alcohol Strategy' running until 2012, including advertising bans, blood-alcohol limits, warning labels on bottles and tax increases. According to a Spiegel report, producers feared that 'the alcohol industry could today find itself where the cigarette industry stood three decades ago: at the beginning of a long trek into banishment.' Against this background, the BSI founded the Arbeitskreis Alkohol und Verantwortung (AAuV) in 2005. The body develops, according to its own statements, 'sustainable prevention and self-regulation measures for the responsible handling of alcoholic beverages.' These include a self-commitment by member companies not to direct their advertising at young people, for example by refraining under the rules of the European umbrella association CEPS from advertising with models under 25 (since 2009), not offering certain packaging such as tubes or sprays (since 2010), or placing advertising only in media or environments where more than 70% of consumers are adults (since 2010). Further measures include the campaign Klartext reden! for families, launched in 2005, as well as guidelines for abstaining from alcohol during pregnancy and for dealing with alcohol problems in the workplace. The former German government drug commissioner, Mechthild Dyckmans, praised the BSI's campaigns. The BSI strictly rejects stricter regulation of the German spirits market, which according to BSI managing director Angelika Wiesgen-Pieck is still the most liberal in Europe. Statutory advertising restrictions, warning labels on spirits packaging (similar to those on tobacco products), further price increases for alcoholic products or drinking bans in public places are, in the association's view, not suitable for preventing abusive alcohol consumption, whose share the association estimates at 5 to 10% of total consumption. The association thus positioned itself against nighttime sales bans for spirits at petrol stations, as introduced by Baden-Württemberg in 2012. Instead, staff at points of sale should be better trained and supported in complying with existing youth-protection rules. To this end, the BSI had already launched a 'Schulungsinitiative Jugendschutz' in 2007 and at the time also clearly distanced itself from 'flatrate' or 'all-you-can-drink' parties. BSI member companies committed themselves to exerting influence on restaurants and discotheques to stop such offers that encourage misuse.

• 2023

  Marion Walsmann becomes new Genuss-Botschafterin in November 2023.

• 2012

  BSI positions itself against nighttime sales bans for spirits at petrol stations introduced by Baden-Württemberg.

• 2010

  Member companies commit to not offering certain packaging such as tubes or sprays, and to placing advertising only in media or environments where more than 70% of consumers are adults.

• 2009

  BSI introduces the 'Maßvoll genießen' logo; member companies commit to not using models under 25 in advertising under CEPS rules.

• 2007

  BSI launches the 'Schulungsinitiative Jugendschutz' (Training Initiative Youth Protection).

• 2005

  BSI founds the Arbeitskreis Alkohol und Verantwortung (AAuV) and launches the Klartext reden! campaign for families.

• 2004

  BSI begins nominating 'Genuss-Botschafter' (Enjoyment Ambassadors) for life for responsible handling of alcoholic beverages.

• 1974

  BSI founded at the end of 1974 as the umbrella association of the German spirits industry.

Umbrella trade association and political voice for the German spirits industry, advocating moderate consumption and opposing stricter regulation.

• 2009Maßvoll genießen
• 2007Schulungsinitiative Jugendschutz
• 2005Klartext reden!

1. 1Start: BSI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Spirituosen-Industrie und -Importeure e. V.spirituosen-verband.de
2. 2Spirituosenwissen: BSI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Spirituosen-Industrie und -Importeure e. V.spirituosen-verband.de
3. 3Federal Association of the German Spirits Industry and Importerswikidata.org
4. 4Bundesverband der Deutschen Spirituosen-Industrie und -Importeurede.wikipedia.org