Brewers of Europe
The Brewers of Europe was founded in 1958 in Brussels as a not-for-profit European association. Its aim is to be the voice of the European brewing sector to the European institutions and international organisations. Current members are the national brewers’ associations from EU Member States, plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.
European Brewery Convention
Founded in 1947, the European Brewery Convention (EBC) is the scientific and technological arm of The Brewers of Europe, defining itself in terms of "facilitating knowledge creation, transfer and collaboration among partners, beer producers and academic organisations, for the benefit of the brewing sector, consumers and the community." EBC is perhaps best known for the biennial EBC Congress, a leading forum for scientific exchange among European and global brewers.
Organisation
The Brewers of Europe overall encourages an open dialogue between its members in relation to all issues falling under the remit of the association.
By promoting its interests and advising the EU institutions and international organisations on all aspects of policy and legislation affecting the brewing sector, The Brewers of Europe is thus able to inform the European and international institutions of its special needs and to ensure that legislative initiatives take the sector’s requirements into consideration.
The organisation represents the interests of the roughly 4,000 brewers across Europe, the vast majority are small and medium-sized, local and family-run establishments. In addition, the organisation seeks to represent and defend the interests of those 2.5 million people across Europe who owe their jobs and livelihoods to the production and selling of crafted beer.
EU Alcohol and Health Forum
The Brewers of Europe is a founding member of the EU Alcohol and Health Forum and committed to being part of the solution when it comes to tackling alcohol misuse. During the past 5 years Europe’s almost 4,000 brewers have supported and funded over 300 responsibility initiatives, mostly at local level and often in partnership with key stakeholders including local authorities, doctors’ groups, road safety authorities, NGOs and consumer organisations. We are committed to continuing the sharing of best practice, including within the Alcohol and Health Forum, and the stepping up of activities in line with the EU’s strategy to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm.
Main issues
Overall, The Brewers of Europe works across 5 main themes:
- Beer & Society
- Beer & Economy
- Beer Integrity
- EBC – European Brewing Convention
- Communications