Measured Conversations: Tax the alcohol, not the label
By World Spirits Alliance When governments publish drinking guidelines, they do not ask whether the alcohol came from beer, wine or spirits. Some will argue that when the same governments tax those drinks, the amount should depend less on the alcohol than on what kind of drink it is. That logic does not hold up […]
Measured Conversations: The Label in Your Pocket: Why Regulators Should Make Room for Digital Labels
By World Spirits Alliance Pick up a bottle of spirits and the label has a great deal to say in very little space. On a few square centimetres of paper, it tells you what you’re drinking, its alcohol content, how much is in the bottle, where it comes from and who made it, along with […]
Measured Conversations: Moderation, Choice and Innovation: What RTDs Tell Us About Today’s Consumer
By World Spirits Alliance Adults are rethinking how they drink. For some, that means choosing not to drink at all. Many more are drinking differently, choosing more deliberately when they drink, what they drink and how much. More and more consumers see moderation as a personal choice that lets them enjoy alcohol in a way […]
Measured conversations: The Measure of Two Years
Before the summer break, Measured Conversations asked Helen Medina, CEO of the World Spirits Alliance, to author our final blog post of the season. It feels fitting that my final weeks with the association included the moment I cherish most on our calendar: the Annual Event. There is something quite remarkable about bringing together members, […]
Measured Conversations: Why Multilateral Organisations Shape Every Bottle
By Helen Medina, World Spirits Alliance CEO Most people don’t think about the World Trade Organisation (WTO) when they order a cocktail in New York, enjoy a whisky in Geneva or buy a bottle of Cognac in Paris. Why would they? The multilateral organisations that shape global trade, public health and cultural heritage can feel […]
Measured Conversations: Why No- and Lower- Alcohol Drinks Are Becoming Part of the Modern Drinking Occasion
by Helen Medina, World Spirits Alliance CEO “Summer afternoon,” wrote Henry James, “the two most beautiful words in the English language.” As summer approaches across much of the Northern Hemisphere, I’ll be spending plenty of time with friends and family organising barbecues or enjoying a Sunday afternoon in sunny gardens or busy terraces. There will […]
Measured Conversations: A measured argument: why the standard drink belongs in policy
by Helen Medina, World Spirits Alliance CEO The most useful conversations I have about moderation always come back to the same starting point: what is in the glass. You can’t make sensible choices about drinking if you don’t know how much alcohol is in front of you. This blog is called Measured Conversations for a […]
WSA in The Spirits Business: Helen Medina on Leading the Alliance
The World Spirits Alliance (WSA) is pleased to highlight a recent feature in The Spirits Business, where our CEO Helen Medina shares insights on the role of the Alliance and the evolving global policy landscape for the spirits sector. In the interview, Medina emphasises the importance of evidence-based policymaking, fair taxation, and public education in […]
WSA CEO Helen Medina Featured in Global Drinks Intel
World Spirits Alliance CEO Helen Medina recently spoke with Global Drinks Intel journalist Olly Wehring in a two-part interview discussing the origins of the organisation, its strategic vision, and the role of the spirits sector in global policy discussions. In the interview, Helen reflects on the evolution of the WSA—from a loose gathering of distillers […]
WSA CEO Helen Medina Featured in Global Drinks Intel
World Spirits Alliance CEO Helen Medina recently spoke with Global Drinks Intel journalist Olly Wehring in a two-part interview discussing the origins of the organisation, its strategic vision, and the role of the spirits sector in global policy discussions. In the interview, Helen reflects on the evolution of the WSA—from a loose gathering of distillers […]