This study explores the politics of culture surrounding the production and circulation of alcoholic beverages in the European Community. Food represents in one way or another the cultures of the people who produce and consume it. Alcoholic beverages a...
This study explores the politics of culture surrounding the production and circulation of alcoholic beverages in the European Community. Food represents in one way or another the cultures of the people who produce and consume it. Alcoholic beverages are a peculiar kind of food in that they move across the borders as finished products rather than in the form of raw material and recipes. This character of alcoholic beverages and their economic value in international trade make them attract greater concern and attention of the nation-states. Cultural conflicts regarding alcoholic beverages involve not only different<br/>
meanings the concerned peoples attach to their products hut also instrumental preoccupations of the states, which find deliberate expressions in cultural representations. This study inquires into the institutional framework and ways in which cultures are politicized and conflict with one another in the circulation of alcoholic beverages in the European Community. As for the institutional framework, it explains the structure and working of the common agricultural policy regarding alcoholic products with particular reference to wine. The study proceeds to the issues of protective taxation, discrimination against foreign products on the basis of consumer protection and the protection of public health, and of conflict regarding designation, description and presentation of products. In exploring these issues, the study analyzes some of the cases of the European Court of Justice involving alcohol.