Tonic for gin lovers as EU allows mixer to keep its name

GIN and tonic, one of Britain’s most popular alcoholic drinks, can keep its name, the European Commission has ruled, to end four years of uncertainty over its status.

Officials said major British drink manufacturers could label the traditional gin mixer as “tonic” despite it not having any health benefits, the Financial Times reported.

The Commission has permitted the term “tonic” to continue to be applied as a “generic descriptor”, which is described as a designation of food or drinks whose name can imply an effect of health, but where consumers generally fail to make the connection.

The ruling was made after four years of wrangling and could be one of the final regulatory skirmishes with Brussels before Britain departs the European Union. A Commission official told the newspaper: “Britain prepares to leave but tonic water stays.”

Calls for a change in the name were made following concerns about false health claims for the product. The sale of tonic water has risen in line with an increase in gin consumption.

The word “tonic” was invented in the mid 19th century to describe the quinine-flavoured bitter drink. The substance is usually sweetened with sugar or other sweeteners before being used as a mixer.

Gavin Partington, director-general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said the intervention by the Commission had resolved the issue.

He told The Financial Times: “Whatever happens with Brexit, at least we can now relax in the knowledge that the future of the quintessentially British gin and tonic is secured.”

UK gin sales were worth over £1.6bn in 2018, up 38 per cent on 2017.