Olvi’s Managing Director Lasse Aho elected to the Board of The Brewers of Europe

Lasse Aho, Managing Director of the brewing company Olvi, has been elected to the Board of Directors of The Brewers of Europe. Aho is the first Finn to serve on The Brewers of Europe’s Board. The Brewers of Europe represents the interests of European brewers’ associations. The Finnish Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry has been a member since 1995.

The Brewers of Europe is a pan-European non-profit organisation that represents the interests of over 5000 breweries around Europe. The association was established in 1958 and includes 29 European national associations. The Brewers of Europe is also one of the founding members of the EU Alcohol and Health Forum.

“The appointment of a Finnish member to the umbrella organisation of European brewers’ associations is a major step for the Finnish brewing industry. We can now engage in closer European cooperation and further assist The Brewers of Europe in guiding EU policies with regards to alcoholic beverages, especially beer,” says Lasse Aho, Olvi’s Managing Director.

“It’s important for Finland to play a proactive role in influencing EU policy. Finland has the most stringent alcohol policy in the EU. Our country is a good example of how restrictions do not serve to develop a positive drinking culture,” says Elina Ussa, Managing Director of the Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry.

The Brewers of Europe has long advocated the responsible enjoyment of beer in Europe. This autumn, the organisation started the Love Beer campaign, which focuses on promoting moderate and responsible beer consumption as part of a balanced and active lifestyle. The Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry launched this European campaign in Finland. In addition to the Love Beer campaign, the Federation has another campaign that stresses moderation, kohtuullisesti.fi.

Brewing has deep roots in European history. Beer and the brewing industry also have long traditions in Finland. The livelihoods of more than two million people in Europe depend on the brewing and sale of beer. In Finland, the brewing industry directly employs almost 2,000 people and the whole chain from farm to glass provides employment to about 28,000 people.

Additional information:
Federation of the Brewing and Soft Drinks Industry
Managing Director Elina Ussa, tel. +358 (0)45 269 7711
Communications Manager Outi Heikkinen, tel. +358 (0)50 370 8677

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