Absinthe the Green Fairy

Absinthe-legalization now in the National

The Senate wants to lift ban on absinthe. He has on Wednesday (17.03.04) the necessary amendments to the Food and Alcohol Act was adopted without any dissenting votes and the submission to the National Council. In the Federal Constitution, the ban has been previously deleted. With the lifting of the ban on absinthe production is also known as the "Green Fairy" drink now known of the alcohol under control, as the spokesman of the preparatory Commission, Jean Studer (SP / NE), said. In addition, limits on the so-called Thujongehalt of vermouth brandy, which is already internationally recognized.

Already in the autumn of last year, the small chamber of a parliamentary initiative of the now ousted professional representative Jean-Claude Cornu (FDP / FR) for a lifting of the ban on absinthe had. The Federal Council had its only few days ago, also calls for a lifting of the ban pronounced, while in front of a marketing anishaltigen the spirit as a new fashion drink warned. Crucial for the proposed legalization of the "Green Fairy" that with an equivalence of the drink to the level of other alcoholic beverages also have the same rights to manufacture and control them. It was now a question of "to regulate something that deserves to be regulated," said Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin in the Council

Currently, the illegal absinthe production, which is primarily due to the growing areas of the wormwood plant in the new Luxembourg Val-de-Travers is concentrated on about 10,000 liters per annum. From the repeal of the ban hope that the politicians an opportunity for local farmers, their production continues to diversify.