As Dry February nears, calls for an official Czech 'beer month' brew

Czechia may soon get a rival to its alcohol-free “Dry February”—an advocacy group led by Czech Member of European Parliament Tomáš Zdechovský wants to name October as the EU’s “Beer Month,” a potentially fitting tribute to Czechia’s favorite libation.

The European Parliament’s Beer Club, a bipartisan and cross-national group founded in 1995, is driving a new initiative to celebrate Europe’s beer culture. The group aims to highlight the region’s brewing traditions and foster a sense of hospitality and heritage.

“Being part of beer culture is not just about drinking beer—it’s about our history,” said Tomáš Zdechovský in an interview with Czech Radio Plus. He emphasized the importance of showcasing the diversity and legacy of European beer-making.

This idea builds on previous efforts to honor beer’s cultural significance. Last year, a “beer summit” in Prague celebrated Czech and Belgian brewing traditions. At the event, Czech President Petr Pavel was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Belgian Order of the Brewer’s Paddle, becoming the first non-Belgian to receive this distinction.

Originally proposed as a national observance in the Czech Republic, the concept of Beer Month gained support from members of the Beer Club. They now aim to expand it across the EU this October.

The proposal comes amid growing scrutiny of alcohol consumption in Europe. The World Health Organization recently declared that no level of alcohol consumption is entirely risk-free.

At the same time, Czechia is introducing stricter measures to reduce alcohol consumption. These include higher taxes, stricter sales regulations, and mandatory health warnings on labels. Campaigns like “Dry February” (suchej únor) promote temporary abstinence to encourage moderation.

Recent tax increases on alcohol in the Czech Republic are expected to generate an additional CZK 900 million annually. However, the costs of treating alcohol-related issues exceed these revenues by more than five times.

The debate over alcohol policy has also reignited tensions between winemakers and producers of taxed alcoholic beverages. Beer and spirits are subject to excise taxes, while still wines remain exempt.

As the Beer Club advocates for October to become Beer Month, experts say it must balance celebrating cultural heritage with addressing public health concerns. The Czech-inspired proposal is now under review by EU lawmakers, with beer enthusiasts hoping for a successful outcome this fall.