Non-alcoholic beverages cannot be sold as gin, according to European Justice

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that non-alcoholic beverages cannot be sold under the designation "gin" since that designation is reserved for a specific alcoholic beverage. The court, based in Luxembourg, made this ruling after a German association against unfair competition requested to ban the sale of a non-alcoholic beverage called "Virgin Gin Alkohol frei" (Virgin Gin alcohol-free). The association argued that this designation is contrary to EU law, as according to it, "gin" or gin must be produced by flavoring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with juniper berries and its minimum alcohol content must be 37.5%. The German court decided to consult the CJEU, which ruled this Thursday that EU law "clearly prohibits the presentation and labeling as 'alcohol-free gin' of beverages like the one in question for the simple reason that such a beverage does not contain alcohol." The court emphasizes, in this sense, that it is "irrelevant" if the ...