Irish, Scots go to court to keep their spirits strong

THE Government has decided to join the Scotch Whisky Association in a case they are taking before the European Court of Justice to protect the alcoholic strength of real whiskey/whisky.

The Scotch Whisky Association is contesting the bona fides of a diluted French whisky produced by La Martiniquaise LM. Their product, which is described as "a blended whisky spirit", is 30 per cent proof.

But, under regulations agreed in 1989, the minimum alcoholic strength by volume of whisky/ whiskey is 40 per cent proof.

Following representations from the Irish Whiskey Distillers Association to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry to protect the quality and reputation of Irish whiskey, the Attorney General, Mr Dermot Gleeson, advised the Cabinet that it was in Ireland's interest to make written observations to the European Court in The Hague by July 30th and, if necessary, to attend the oral hearing.

The Irish Whiskey Distillers Association made the case that it was not in the interests of the Irish whiskey industry that competitors should be allowed a competitive advantage by selling "under strength" products. It urged the Government to protect the "generic name" of whiskey.