2nd Kulmbach Beer Law Day on "Alcohol and Health"

BRAUWELT: Prof. Purnhagen, after the topic of beer and sustainability last year, the 2nd Beer Law Day is all about "Alcohol and Health". Why did you choose this focus for the event?

Prof. Dr. Kai Purnhagen: "The European Commission selects certain priorities for which it plans new legislative initiatives or other interventions. Last autumn, it announced that it would address the issue of alcohol and health in its next plans. In accordance with our credo in Kulmbach to always be a little ahead of the times, we will create the appropriate framework at the Beer Law Day to ensure an exchange between science, politics and the industry right from the start. Above all, this will also allow us to shape upcoming innovations in an evidence-based way and not just react."

BRAUWELT: The museums at the Mönchshof are dedicated to beer, bread and spices. How do you, Dr Metzel, deal with the topic of "alcohol and health"?

Dr. Helga Metzel: "Beer and bread are essential staple foods in Bavaria from a cultural-historical point of view. With the Bavarian Brewery Museum, the Bavarian Bakery Museum and the German Spice Museum, the Kulmbacher Mönchshof sees itself as a cultural-historical showcase of Kulmbach as a food location and is regarded as a food culture centre in the heart of Upper Franconia. The cultural history of beer, bread, spices and meat products is presented here in an unmistakable way. The Kulmbacher Mönchshof is predestined for this task, especially in view of its own history, which has been shaped since the Middle Ages by the topic of natural and healthy nutrition, which is highly topical again in our time. With our actions, we promote the conscious and responsible handling of our cultural asset, beer. As an example, I would like to mention our "Responsibility Seminars", in which pupils from secondary schools learn interesting facts about raw materials, brewing beer and its history, as well as about the responsible use of beer. Lectures on the effects of alcohol are also part of the programme."

Brauwelt: In contrast to 2022, the programme is divided into a scientific and a practice-oriented part - what is behind this?

KP: "We realised at the first Beer Law Day that we wanted too much. We wanted to present science and at the same time provide a forum for exchange within the sector: But that is not possible at the same time. That is why we have now decided to divide the Beer Law Day in the same way as we would like it to be divided in terms of legislation and application. First the scientific findings, then on their basis a discussion on how to implement them. To underline this spatially, the first part will also take place in the new premises at the Kulmbach Campus of the University of Bayreuth, the second part in the museums of the Mönchshof."

HM: "We offer the ideal spatial possibilities at the Kulmbach Mönchshof to openly discuss what we have heard with each other. In designing the programme for the 2nd Kulmbach Beer Law Day 2023, we have attached importance to having even more time for interdisciplinary and especially personal exchange among each other. With the Bavarian Brewery Museum, we have a perfect place to delve deeply into the tradition of brewing and the history of beer through emotion. And also to better understand cultural-historical developments in a socio-cultural context."

Brauwelt: What is the focus of the scientific part? 

KP: "It is primarily about a scientifically differentiated classification of the topic of health and alcohol, based on scientific findings. Whether and how these can then be implemented in law and regulation is the subject of the jurisprudential part. We are very pleased to have been able to win over proven experts on this topic, such as my colleague Prof. Dr. Janine Henkel-Oberländer or Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment."

Brauwelt: What can the participants expect during the practice-oriented part?  

KP: "Here we are looking forward to a good insight into the current plans for regulation in these areas and how the representatives from industry and trade will take this on board. "

HM: "From last year's experience, the participants will be able to experience the exchange of opinions in a concrete way and network in the practice-oriented part."

Brauwelt: Which group of participants do you want to reach with the event?

KP: "We hope for a lively participation from the entire supply chain of the industry, from the producer to the brewer to the consumer. In addition, we also hope for lively participation from the competent authorities and legislators. Above all, we are also looking forward to participation from the scientific community, where, as we saw at the last Beer Law Day, there is still a lot of room for improvement."

HM: "We are also counting on more representatives from the trade media - the insights gained at the 2nd Kulmbach Beer Law Day should become tangible for as many members of the industry as possible. We would like to take this opportunity to thank BRAUWELT for its support as a renewed media partner, as well as Kulmbacher Brauerei AG for its idealistic and financial support of this expert forum."

Brauwelt: What are you personally looking forward to the most?

KP: "I am most looking forward to gaining new insights from research and practice. I am also looking forward to getting to know the various players and, as happened at the last Beer Law Day, also being able to address and solve weighty problems in a small circle with the key players and to initiate new projects."

HM: "The entire team of the museums in Kulmbach Mönchshof and I personally are looking forward to hosting this high-quality event again. We will do our utmost to ensure that our guests feel comfortable with us at the Mönchshof so that they can really discuss freely! We will thus - coming from the tradition and history of brewing beer - accompany our cultural asset beer on its way into the future in a socio-cultural way. If you like, you can consciously enjoy beer with us. Even non-alcoholic."  

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