Federal Alcohol Administration
| Federal Alcohol Administration | |
|---|---|
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| Headquarters | Delsberg (since 2018, previously Bern) |
| Chief | Stefan Schmidt |
| At sight | Federal Department of Finance FDF |
| Website | www.eav.admin.ch |
The Federal Alcohol Administration EAV ( French Régie fédérale des alcools RFA , Italian Regìa federale degli alcool RFA , Rhaeto-Romanic Administraziun federala d'alcohol AFA ) was a federal authority of the Swiss Confederation .
Until the end of 2017, the SAB was responsible for enforcing Swiss alcohol legislation . This regulated the production and import of spirits and ethanol , the trade in and advertising of spirits. The aim of this legislation is health protection (Art. 105 of the Federal Constitution ). Fermented alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine do not belong to the scope of the alcohol legislation .
Purpose and tasks
The SAB performed the tasks in the area of federal monopolies on the production of spirits as well as on the production and import of ethanol. Together with her partners in the cantons , she ensured compliance with the advertising and trade regulations applicable to spirits.
90% of the annual net profit of around 260 million francs was used to finance the AHV / IV and 10% in prevention projects (the so-called alcohol tenth ).
taxation
The main task of the SAB was to collect the consumption tax of 29 francs per liter of pure alcohol on spirits. To this end, it monitored the consistent market separation between spirits or ethanol for consumption and ethanol for industrial purposes, which is exempt from tax.
Advertising regulations
The SAB ensured compliance with the advertising regulations for spirits prescribed in the Alcohol Act, which only allow product-related advertising. The representation of a lifestyle in connection with spirits is not permitted. She attached great importance to advice. On the specially developed web portal, advertising drafts could be checked for compliance with the law free of charge before they were published.
Trade regulations
The SAB issued permits for wholesaling . A cantonal retail trade license must be applied for for the sale and serving of spirits to end customers. The cantons are responsible for enforcing trade regulations (e.g. ban on happy hours offers ). The SAB was there to advise them.
Protection of minors
The provisions on the protection of minors are anchored in the Alcohol and Food Act. The sale of spirits to young people under the age of 18 is prohibited, as is the sale of wine and beer to children under the age of 16. The cantons are also allowed to apply stricter laws. For example, in the canton of Ticino no alcoholic beverages are sold to under 18s. At points of sale, clearly visible signs are to be affixed, which clearly draw attention to the sales restrictions. The SAB promoted the conduct of alcohol test purchases , which have proven to be the most effective and cost-effective means of complying with the sales restrictions. She also offered free training materials for the sales force.
Ethanol import
Alcosuisse performs the tasks relating to the import monopoly for ethanol. The profit center with performance mandate and global budget supplies the Swiss economy with around 40 million kg of ethanol annually.
In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic , there was a shortage of disinfectants because the federal government had not ensured the ethanol reserves.
organization
The EAV was founded in 1887 and is considered the oldest institution in the federal government. It had had a legal personality since 1900. The EAV had its headquarters in Bern until 2017 and in Delsberg (JU) since 2018 . It carried out decentralized controls throughout Switzerland. The SAB and its profit center are in regular contact with more than 135,000 companies, farms and private individuals due to their varied tasks.
Restructuring
At the beginning of 2018, the SAB was integrated into the Federal Customs Administration (FCA). In future, a new division alcohol and tobacco (AAT) of the Directorate General of Customs (DGC) is based in Delémont (JU) be responsible for the execution of the alcohol legislation. A partial revision of the Alcohol Act should provide the necessary legal basis for this. The purchase and sale of industrial alcohol was spun off from 1998 to the later stock corporation Alcosuisse and is to be completely privatized. Two years later there was a reorientation in alcohol policy, which should lead away from the reduction of spirits to a market-oriented promotion of fine spirits.
Historical background
Due to social and economic problems, many workers drank cheap schnapps, also known as Brönz ( Jeremias Gotthelf ), in the second half of the 19th century . The poor working conditions (long working hours, heavy physical activity, etc.) meant that potato schnapps became a widespread drug among the lowest strata of the population . Often children, women and men drank the high-proof schnapps early in the morning as a substitute for food or as an anesthetic for work and school. The church and other social groups feared the physical brutality of the working class . The potato schnapps became a popular epidemic, known as the potato schnapps .
See also
Web links
- Website of the Swiss Alcohol Administration SAB
- Website of the Federal Customs Administration: Alcohol and Tobacco Department
- Alcosuisse website
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b alcohol. History of the alcohol issue and policy. In: admin.ch . Federal Customs Administration , accessed on May 18, 2020 .
- ↑ Corona: Federal government overslept disinfectant supplies. In: blick.ch . April 6, 2020, accessed April 13, 2020 .
- ↑ http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/rezensions/2017-1-215
Coordinates: 46 ° 57 '12.7 " N , 7 ° 25' 53.7" E ; CH1903: 599,464 / 200272