Wine drinkers in Switzerland consumed 1.7 percent more in 2010 than the year before.

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HEALTH

Swiss wine lovers drink more

Wine drinkers in Switzerland consumed 1.7 percent more in 2010 than the year before.

Published: 28 April 2011 10:36 CEST

According to newly released figures from the Swiss Federal Office of Agriculture, a total of 280 million liters of wine were consumed in the country last year.

The increase is in line with the population growth, the office said in a statement. Consumption of foreign wine rose most, increasing by 7.8 percent and imported vintages accounted for 62 percent of all consumption.

Swiss wines are making up lost ground, with the popularity of home-grown vintages having fallen in previous years. Swiss red wine was up 4.2 percent, while consumption of Swiss white wine was up 2 percent.

Canton Valais remains the biggest wine producing area in Switzerland, with 5,042 hectares under cultivation, followed by Canton Vaud (3,818 ha) and Canton Geneva (1,433 ha).

Switzerland could vote again on legalising cannabis

The new initiative was announced by the Federal Chancellery.

The initiative entitled “Legalising cannabis: an opportunity for the economy, health and equality” also calls for revenues from the taxation of cannabis products to be allocated to drug prevention as well as a campaign by the government to highlight the health risks of cannabis.

The organisers have 18 months – until October 2025 – to collect the 100,000 signatures required for a popular initiative to brought to the ballot box on a national level.

Cannabis has been illegal in Switzerland since 1951 and its use has been punishable by law since 1975. But national statistics say there are around 300,000 cannabis users in the country.

The new initiative states: “Legislation regarding the cultivation, possession and personal use of cannabis is the responsibility of the Confederation. Citizens who have reached the age of 18 can cultivate and possess cannabis.”

Cultivation and sale for commercial purposes would be permitted, the initiative states. Farms and points of sale would be subject to licensing and strict quality and safety standards. Individuals would be limited to growing 50 cannabis plants at home.

In a previous referendum held on this issue in 2008, 63 percent of voters rejected the legalisation. Since then, however, the tide may have turned, according to a government survey published in 2021.

In the meantime, several Swiss cities — Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Lausanne, and Lucerne — have launched pilot projects to see what health and social effects the regulated sale of cannabis has on its users, and society in general.

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