'Although the government is properly contributing to the health of the population, the Minister of Economy and Agriculture is concerned about failures in the wine industry,' the article notes. Consumption of Swiss wines in 2024 fell by 16%. Global alcohol consumption last year reached 214 million hectoliters, the lowest figure since 1961. The share of the Swiss wine market decreased from 38.9% to 35.5% in one year.
To somehow change these indicators, the head of the Ministry of Economy called on locals to drink wine more willingly to boost alcohol consumption in the country.
The politician's proposal sparked mixed reactions. Green Party deputy Manuela Weichelt expressed outrage: 'The Ministry of Health invests a lot of resources to reduce alcohol consumption, and suddenly a federal councilor urges the population to drink wine.'
According to a new study, it turned out that wines produced in Europe in recent years contain trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) – a byproduct of PFAS, which remains in the environment and enters food. These chemicals, designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, are hazardous to health.
In summary: The Swiss Minister of Economy urged citizens to drink more wine due to the decline in alcohol consumption in the country, but this suggestion sparked varied reactions, including outrage from some politicians. Toxic chemicals have also been found in wines, which may pose a health threat to consumers.