The EU court has ruled that non-alcoholic beverages can’t be sold as gin.  

In a ruling on Thursday (13 November), the European Court of Justice stated that ‘gin’ is reserved solely for alcoholic beverages.  

It said that under EU law, gin must be made by flavouring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with juniper berries and have a minimum alcohol content of 37.5%. 

The case was brought to the court by Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb, who accused PB Vi Goods, who were selling ‘Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei’, of creating unfair competition. 

 Siding with Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb, the EU court agreed that non-alcoholic ‘gin’ caused consumer confusion. It said that the new ruling would ensure fair competition among gin producers.  

The ruling is congruent with the 2019 EU regulation which states the need to protect consumers, prevent deceptive practices, ensure fair competition and safeguard the reputation of the EU’s spirit drinks.  

“The fact that the legal name ‘gin’ is accompanied by the term ‘non-alcoholic’ is irrelevant in that regard,” the court said. 

Since the ruling, The Gin Guild has responded via a statement in which it hailed “common sense”. 

Pal Gleed, director general of the Gin Guild, said: “We welcome this decision –it upholds integrity in the gin category and protects producers who invest in the craft of gin distillation. It means the word ‘gin’ remains a meaningful guarantee of alcohol-based botanical spirit, rather than a marketing label for a very different product.”