Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 13, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe EU court ruled that 'gin' can only label alcoholic drinks, ensuring consumer clarity and fair competition in the gin market.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The name 'gin' is reserved solely for alcoholic beverages, the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday.
The case was brought by Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb, a German association against unfair competition, targeting PB Vi Goods, which sold a drink called "Virgin Gin Alkoholfrei".
The German court handling the case referred it to the European Court of Justice for a ruling.
Under EU law, gin must be made by flavoring ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with juniper berries and have a minimum alcohol content of 37.5%.
The court said the prohibition protects consumers from confusion and ensures fair competition among gin producers.
"The fact that the legal name 'gin' is accompanied by the term 'non-alcoholic' is irrelevant in that regard," the court added.
PB Vi Goods did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Gin is a distilled alcoholic beverage made by flavoring ethyl alcohol with juniper berries and other botanicals. It typically has a minimum alcohol content of 37.5%.
Non-alcoholic beverages are drinks that contain little to no alcohol. They are designed to provide similar flavors to alcoholic drinks without the intoxicating effects.
Consumer protection refers to laws and regulations designed to ensure the rights of consumers, promoting fair trade, competition, and accurate information in the marketplace.
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