RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

Olympic Brewery, with a strong sense of responsibility towards consumers, advocates responsible drinking practices.

Our company implements a communication policy that encourages consumers to “Enjoy Responsibly”. This policy is prevalent in all advertising and promotion campaigns of our products, to raise awareness among alcohol consumers. With that in mind, consumer communication is clear and honest, without concealing the nature or alcohol content of each product, nor directing consumers to buying products of higher alcohol content. Τhe consumption of our products is not promoted as a means of lowering inhibitions, lifting mood and solving personal problems.

Our communications:

• DO NOT obscure the nature or alcohol content of a product.

• DO NOT give too much importance to the alcoholic strength (alcohol by volume) of a drink.

• DO NOT imply preference to a particular drink because of its higher alcoholic strength.

• The consumption of our products may be promoted as an enjoyable part of social activity, but this DOES NOT suggest that it may contribute to an individual’s social success or acceptance or personal popularity.

• We DO NOT present our products as a means of lowering inhibitions.

• We DO NOT link drinking with mood changing or solving personal problems.

• We DO NOT create the impression that alcoholic drinks may enhance mental abilities or improve physical performance.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

Olympic Brewery brings consumers in touch with quality products and advocates responsible drinking by promoting useful tips:

• Occasional excessive drinking may cause harmful effects. Prefer regular moderate drinking, so you can resist over-drinking.

• Do not drink and then drive, or find someone else to drive. The risks and consequences of driving while intoxicated are clear. Drinking and driving may cause fatal accidents.

• Avoid drinking beer when you are or try to get pregnant. Excessive drinking may harm the fetus. Furthermore, alcohol may have a negative impact on women’s fertility, and excessive drinking may compromise the health and quality of men’s sperm.

• Do not mix your medicines with beer. As is the case with all alcoholic drinks when mixed with medicines, beer compromises medicine efficacy or alters medicine chemical composition.

• Do not drink when operating machinery. In case of excessive drinking, alcohol may slow your reaction times or lead to actions that may compromise your safety.

• Drinking is better when you are with friends. Alcohol may intensify negative feelings.

• Do not drink when doing sports. Do not drink beer before, during or after sports activities. It is better to drink water, as your body needs hydration to replace the fluids it has lost.

• Combine your drink with a snack or meal. Eat a little, drink a little. Drinking beer with empty stomach is never a good idea. Even a small snack helps slow down alcohol absorption from your body.

• Check the alcohol content of the drink you chose. The alcohol content of beers is different depending on the product. Most beers have 5% ABV, but some beers may have up to 7% or even more. ABV is always written on the beer label or can, and you must always check it.

• Do not mix beer with other drinks. Drinking beer is an enjoyable moment in itself! Mixing it with other drinks may increase the alcohol concentration in your body.

• Follow the rule “Not now, maybe later”. Always remember that beer is an alcoholic drink. So, it’s up to you to pick the right moment according to your daily schedule.

• Enjoy! Having a beer is associated with friend gatherings, parties and pleasant moments of fun. Responsible drinking means that you can have fun and enjoy your beer without harmful consequences for your health!

Source: www.carlsberggroup.com: Responsible Consumption

BENEFITS OF MODERATE DRINKING

According to studies, moderate beer consumption may have health benefits:

• Cardiovascular disease: As a means of preventing cardiovascular disease and infarction, scientific research recommends a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise. Moderate consumption of beer, wine and other beverages may fit in a healthy lifestyle. It has been clinically proven that people who drink (beer, wine or other beverages) in moderation, run considerably lower risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to people who do not drink at all or those who drink excessively.

• These benefits apply to a broad group of people, which includes high-risk groups, such as people predisposed to cardiovascular diseases or those who suffer from diabetes.

• Blood cholesterol levels: High values of “good cholesterol” (HDL) seem to associate with lower risks of cardiovascular disease. HDL blood levels are increasing with moderate alcohol consumption.

• Embolism: scientific research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption prevents the formation of blood clots.

• Inflammation: a group of researchers highlights the anti-inflammatory effects of alcohol, stressing multiple indications on atherosclerosis, an inflammatory disease that may cause ischemic stroke.

• Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance is linked to cardiovascular diseases. Moderate alcohol consumption is related to lower insulin resistance levels, and may therefore lead to lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, this may be an additional mechanism in which alcohol consumption lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, there is evidence that light to moderate alcohol consumption may protect against other cardiovascular diseases, including infarction, ischemic stroke, etc. However, moderate alcohol consumption is not the sole factor that affects human health. Dietary habits, social status, general lifestyle, attitude towards health and predisposition to diseases also need to be taken into serious account. Furthermore, both the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption are equally important.

The role of beer in our diet

Made from natural ingredients with high nutritional value, including barley, yeast and water, beer is an ally that fits in a healthy lifestyle. Moderate beer consumption may provide multiple vitamins in your body. But we should remember that no food alone may provide all the vital minerals needed by our bodies. So, beer must be always consumed in moderation and be part of a balanced diet.

Potential Benefits from Beer’s Natural Ingredients

Antioxidants

Malt (barley) and hops enrich beer with antioxidants. Antioxidants have important health effects, as they probably play some part in protecting from cancer, through their action against free radicals. Researchers claim that the effect of beer antioxidants is direct, related to lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamins

Beer is a good source of vitamins which are very important to our bodies. In particular, it is rich in B vitamins, including niacin, riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9) and cobalamin (B12).

Minerals

Beer composition contains a balanced combination of vital minerals. Relatively rich in potassium and magnesium and featuring low sodium and calcium content, beer is an ally against gallstones and bile duct obstruction. Moderate beer consumption does not lead to weight gain! Calories in beer mainly come from its alcohol content, as beer does not contain fat or lipoprotein (cholesterol) and has low sugar content. As a result, its calorific value is lower compared to other drinks, when consumed in moderation. The term fat rolls (fat around the stomach), which has been associated with beer, is a typical obesity feature common in several parts of Europe with high beer consumption. However, this type of obesity might be a result of other consumer characteristics.

It’s all a matter of lifestyle!

Research data show that a healthy lifestyle does not exclude the consumption of beer or other beverages, provided it is done in moderation. In short, a healthy lifestyle means balanced diet, regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption and no smoking. Research is currently carried out to find out whether some of the potential health benefits of food and drinks – including beer – may have positive impact on our bodies and help prevent diseases.

Source: The benefits of moderate beer consumption

The Brewers of Europe 23-25 Rue Caroly - B - 1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0) 2 672 23 92 - Fax: +32 (0) 2 660 94 02

e-mail: info@brewersofeurope.org

www.brewersofeurope.org

Greek Brewers Association, Kifissou 102, 122 41 Egaleo, Greece; Tel.: +30 210 5613452