Health & Social Responsibility

It is WFA’s policy that wine should be enjoyed in moderation and that the industry, through its business practices and related activities, must promote sustainable and socially responsible practices. However, the Federation also believes wine is a beneficial lifestyle beverage and is working to protect the industry from possible over-regulation as the Federal Government seeks to control perceived alcohol abuse.

To achieve these twin goals we have:

• established a skills-based Wine & Social Responsibility Committee, comprising industry representatives and experts on the clinical pharmacological/physiological and social effects of wine and its consumption
• developed a Wine & Social Responsibility Strategy (PDF) to further enhance industry practices
• made submissions to the National Alcohol Strategy, the National Health & Medical Research Council’s Australian Alcohol Guidelines and the Preventative Health Taskforce (See Submissions & Policy Statements.)
• developed close working relations with government agencies on the development of policies and guidelines.

WFA has also

• worked with a range of stakeholders to promote Standard Drinks Labelling
• partnered with other alcohol sectors to form the DrinkWise Australia
• worked with other alcohol sectors and the Advertising Federation of Australia to develop the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (PDF - updated November 2009)
• established the National Wine Foundation to fund projects that address social problems which can lead to alcohol abuse.

Resources for industry

• Responsible drinking: it’s your shout (PDF) – WFA brochure
• Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol (PDF; 2.26MB) – NHMRC Report, Feb 2009