The European Beer Consumers' Union (EBCU) is a consumer organisation founded in 1990 in Bruges, Belgium, by three national beer organisations: CAMRA (United Kingdom), Objectieve Bierproevers (Belgium) and PINT (Netherlands).
History
editIn 2003, Objectieve Bierproevers was replaced by Zythos.
In 2008, the member organisations signed up to a constitution which defined the formal aims and structure and the role of traditional beer as a "prime component of European culture, history and daily life".[citation needed]
Beoir, an Irish consumer organisation setup in 2010 to promote Irish craft brewing and microbreweries,[1] became the organisation's 13th member in 2012.[2]
In 2012, Terry Lock, chairman since 1999, retired and Henri Reuchlin from the Netherlands was elected to replace him.[3] Bo Jensen from Denmark replaced Henri Reuchlin as chairman in 2018, serving until 2022.[4] In 2022, André Brunnsberg of Finnish organisation Olutliitto was elected Chair.[5]
Members
editAs of March 2023, the union's website listed 21 members from 17 European countries:[6]
| Country | Acronym | Organisation Name | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
 Spain
|
ACCE | Asociación de Cerveceros Caseros Españoles | 2009 |
 Ireland
|
Beoir | 2010 | |
 Austria
|
BierIG | BierIG Österreich | 2002 |
 Iceland
|
Bjórmenningarfélag Íslands | 2021 | |
 Poland
|
Bractwo Piwne | 1995 | |
 United Kingdom
|
CAMRA | Campaign for Real Ale | 1971 |
| Spain
|
CELCE | Club Español de Coleccionismo Cervecero | 1987 |
 Denmark
|
DBE | Danske Ølentusiaster | 1998 |
 France
|
FNABRA | Fédération Nationale des Associations Brassicoles | 2002 |
 Germany
|
GBCU | German Beer Consumers Union | 2019 |
 Switzerland and  Liechtenstein
|
GFB | Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Biervielfalt | 1991 |
 Italy
|
MoBI | Movimento Birra | 2003 |
 Finland
|
Olutliitto | 1992 | |
| Poland
|
PSPD | Polskie Stowarzyszenie Piwowarów Domowych | 2010 |
 Czech Republic
|
SPP | Sdružení přátel piva | 1990 |
 Sweden
|
SÖ | Svenska Ölfrämjandet | 1985 |
 Netherlands
|
PINT | Vereniging Promotie Informatie Traditioneel Bier | 1980 |
| Netherlands
|
Beer Geeks | ||
| Italy
|
Unionbirrai | 1999 | |
 Belgium
|
ZYTHOS | Zythos | 2003 |
 Norway
|
Norbrygg | 1998 |
Aims
editThe union campaigns on European level to:
- To preserve and maintain the diversity of the traditional European beer cultures, with particular regard to local, regional and national brewing and beer styles
- To protect the consumer from the imposition of unfair pricing by opposing unreasonable taxation or exploitative business practices
- To ensure that the consumer receives the best factual information about any beer on commercial sale.
References
edit- ^ Dredge, M. (2014). Craft Beer World: A guide to over 350 of the finest beers known to man. Ryland Peters & Small. p. 438. ISBN 978-1-909313-37-8. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ EBCU official press release: Ireland Joins the EBCU, European Beer Consumers' Union, 9 Nov 2012, archived from the original on 29 June 2013, retrieved 2013-06-29
- ^ "EBCU Press Release: Dutchman to lead European Beer Consumers". Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^ EBCU (2018-11-10). "Bo Jensen has been elected as the new Chairman of EBCU.pic.twitter.com/xyFrvowlAq". @ebcu1. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
- ^ "New chairman appointed for two years". EBCU. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ "EBCU member groups". EBCU website. Retrieved 10 October 2022.